Can Peer Praise Promote Inclusion towards Racial/Ethnic Outgroups?

• In Event: Experiments on Social Norms and Identity

Abstract

Outgroup bias is both well-documented and pernicious, manifesting in negative attitudes and behavior towards outgroups. Addressing it is a first-order priority for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs, as well as society more generally. Empathy---taking the perspective and understanding the experiences of others---holds promise for attenuating outgroup bias, but existing methods to encourage it are expensive and difficult to scale. Through seven pilots, we develop a low-cost, scalable ``peer praise” intervention that encourages empathy towards generalized and racial/ethnic “others”. We test whether our intervention promotes empathy and inclusive behavior/attitudes among white U.S. respondents towards black and Latino/a Americans, a context where outgroup bias is particularly durable. We (1) measure costly choices to engage in empathy, (2) test whether peer praise promotes political and (3) attitudinal inclusion, and if (4) praise specifically from co-partisans can promote inclusion. Finally, we test potential mechanisms for peer praise: happiness and norms.

Authors

• Adeline Lo, University of Wisconsin, Madison

• Jonathan Renshon, University of Wisconsin, Madison

• Lotem Bassan-Nygate, Harvard University