1. Having an Open Mind: The Impact of Openness to Experience on Interracial Attitudes and Impression Formation Francis J. Flynn Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2005, Vol. 88, No. 5, 816–826 Presented by Sabine Hobbel

2. Racial Prejudice Certain White People in the U.S. hold Negative Stereotypes against Black People Differences can be explained by group membership and social identity Differences can be explained by personality

3. Personality Factors Right wing authoritarianism Social dominance orientation Little research on Big Five Personality Model –This research will focus on Openness to Experience

4. Investigating the Contact Hypothesis White people will respond reasonably to information that disconfirms negative stereotypes about Black people Mixed results, not always confirming the contact hypothesis

5. Possible Reason for Mixed Results Certain people may be more receptive than others to stereotype-disconfirming information Open people could be more likely to change their mind after contact Interesting implications for policy makers

6. Study 1 – Methods 78 Undergrads from Columbia University, U.S., paid to participate Big Five Inventory >>Personality Modern Racism Scale>>Racial Attitudes Pro-Black Scale>>Racial Attitudes Discrimination Scale>>Discrimination in Society Diversity Scale>>Diversity in Society Marlowe–Crownes 2 Social Desirability ScaleSocial Desirability

7. Study 1 - Results More open > more tolerant Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness were not correlated with any of the measures of prejudice Neuroticism might be correlated negatively with prejudice (surprising!) Small impact of social desirability

8. Study 2 - Methods 80 White undergrads from Columbia University, U.S., paid to participate Big Five Inventory >>Openness Biographical Sketch John >>Various information, incl. Ethnicity Activity on Particular Day >>Focus on Intelligence Marlowe– Crownes Scale >> Social Desirability 1.Write everything down about John that you can remember (check ethnicity) 2.Rate John on intellectual, bright, successful, responsible, and ambitious

9. Study 2 - Results High on openness > high on Johns likableness and intelligence Social desirability mattered, but relation openness and likableness/intelligence remained significant and positive Controlling other personality variables mattered, but relation openness and likableness/intelligence remained significant and positive

10. Study 3 – Methods 75 White undergrads from Columbia University, U.S., paid to participate Big Five Inventory >>Openness Videotaped interviews (35 min.) >> Form impressions of interviewees 1.Write everything down about John that you can remember (check ethnicity) 2.Rate interviewees on intelligent, smart, responsible, dependable, honest, truthful, outgoing, talkative, adventurous, daring, humorous, and amusing.

11. Study 3 - Results High on openness > more positive about Black interviewees Only in stereotypical categories, not in non-stereotypical Not more positive about White interviewees, opposite effect No change when controlled for social desirability

12. General Discussion How non-stereotypical behaviour is perceived depends on openness Interesting for policy makers: focus on change in openness to decrease levels of prejudice Interesting for future research: not all people act the same, focus on individual differences