The Effects Of Implicit Theory Of Ethnic On Ethnic Identity And Ethnic Stereotypes

Implicit theory of ethnic are beliefs that individuals hold that allow them tomake sense of how these outer differences in physical characteristics correspond toinner person attributes such as abilities and personality traits. One of the theoriescontends that ethnic is determined by nonmalleable, deep-seated essence (can begenetic or otherwise biological, or other essence placeholders) and the essencewould give rise to stable personality traits and abilities across situations. This wastermed the essentialist theory of ethnic. An opposing theory, ethnic is a socialconstruction that is arbitrarily created due to social and political reasons in historicalcontexts. Because the ethnical categorization is fluid, any differences observedbetween ethnical groups do not reflect deep-seated differences between the groups.This was termed the social constructionist theory of race. Implicit theory of ethnichave an important influence on the processing, judgement and reaction to the relatedgroup information, and associated with many group process (e.g., stereotype,prejudice, social identity),it also moderate the psychological effects of socialidentification.The present research was established in northwest China cultural context, witha sample of minority and majority university students, use several kinds ofparadigms, such as questionnaire method, interview method, experimental method,the current research explored the features of implicit theory of ethnic，ethnicstereotype， in-group affirmation, out-group contact attitude，and their relationship,the dissertation consists of four researches:Study one, with a sample of351university students, using explicitquestionnaire method, explored the features of lay theory of ethnic，in-groupaffirmation, and out-group contact attitude，analysed the effects of implicit theory ofethnic on in-group affirmation and out-group contact attitude. The result showed:（1）Both minority and majority group showed a in-group bias, implicit theory ofethnic can predict in-group affirmation positively, but predict out-group contactattitude negatively, and also played a mediating effect between in-group affirmation and out-group contact attitude for the sample which from minority areas, this meansthere was not inevitable conflicts between in-group affirmation and out-groupcontact attitude.（2）The relationship between in-group affirmation and out-groupcontact attitude existed a significant differences among ethnics, this indicate that thediversity of the living condition has a important role in the positive group relation.Study two, with a sample of284university students, using explicit self-reportmethod, had a research on ethnic stereotypes of minority and majority. The resultshowed: there was no significant differences between minority and majority sampleon the quantity of positive stereotypes, but majority sample’s negative stereotypeswere more than minority sample, and also showed a lower level of out-group contactattitude than minority.Study three, with a sample of11minority university students, using groupinterview method, researched the stereotypes which they perceived from majoritygroup.Study four, with a sample of104minority university, based on study one andstudy two, using experimental method, explored the influence of implicit theory ofethnic on the stereotype endorsement. The result showed: Implicit theory of ethnichad a significant influence on ethnic stereotype endorsement, those who hold astronger view of essentialist theory of ethnic showed stronger stereotypeendorsement to the out-group, especially on negative stereotype.On the basis of the above four researches, the major conclusion are made asfollow:（1）In the practice, implicit theories of ethnic could be used as an agency toreduce the stereotype and prejudice, and thus foster better group relationship.（2）There was not inevitable conflicts between in-group affirmation andout-group contact attitude. The diversity of the living condition has a important rolein the positive group relation（3）In the practice of National unity education, we should educate bothminority and majority group.