Monitor on Psychology - October 2011 - (Page 41)

The workshop tells participants that the brain can change, that people’s personalities can change, and that people act based on thoughts and motivations, rather than because they are “bad” or “good” — again, features open to change. In a not-yet-published study, the team found that after the workshop, ninth and 10th graders were less likely to want to exact revenge on “bullies” following a pre-programmed computerized lab game where a three-way game of catch turns into a two-way game that automatically excludes one child. They were also more likely to write friendly rather than vengeful notes to the youngsters who had “excluded” them in the game. These positive effects held up at three months. The findings suggest a way out of a negative trajectory that plagues many high schools, Dweck said. “Learning a growth mindset about yourself and your peers allows you to act constructively in the face of social challenges and to achieve a greater overall school experience,” she said. A new way to combat prejudice? Dweck, Stanford graduate student Priyanka Carr and postdoctoral student Kristin Parker, PhD, are also tackling the complex area of prejudice. In a series of studies currently under review, the team again began by looking at whether people believe prejudice is a fixed or malleable trait. They also measured the conscious and unconscious prejudice of OCTOBER 2011 • MONITOR ON PSYCHOLOGY participants, all of whom were white. They found that participants who believed mindsets couldn’t be changed were more likely to act in prejudiced ways, by, for example, placing their chairs farther away from an AfricanAmerican participant during a discussion. Next, the team assigned participants to read one of two sets of articles, one endorsing the idea that prejudice is fixed, the other that it’s a malleable trait. According to independent raters, after reading the articles, both groups acted friendly with white partners, but those who had read the articles that said people’s prejudices can change also acted friendly with a black partner — even those initially found to be high in prejudice. Participants who had read the fixed-mindset articles, however, did not act as friendly to the black participant. Next, the team will examine an understudied area that could have a big impact on campus climate: the mindsets of college roommates of different ethnicities. “We know from research that intergroup or interracial roommates often have a very anxious time with each other,” Dweck said. “We’re wondering what role these beliefs about prejudice may play in these situations, and how we can intervene to make these interactions more successful.” n Tori DeAngelis is a writer in Syracuse, N.Y. 41 Photos.com http://photos.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Monitor on Psychology - October 2011

Monitor on Psychology - October 2011
President’s Column
Subtle and stunning slights
Contents
From the CEO
Live science on the showroom floor
Zimbardo re-examines his landmark study
Ready, set, mentor
Attention students and ECPs: Self-care is an ‘ethical imperative’
Suicide risk is high among war veterans in college, study finds
Psychotherapy is effective and here’s why
From toilet to tap: getting people to drink recycled water
What’s ahead for psychology practice?
A push for more accountability is changing the accreditation process
Peer, parental support prove key to fighting childhood obesity
Popular media’s message to girls
Bullying may contribute to lower test scores
A consequence of cuckoldry: More (and better) sex?
Manatees’ exquisite sense of touch may lead them into dangerous waters
Building a better tomato
How will China’s only children care for their aging parents?
‘Spice’ and ‘K2’: New drugs of abuse now on the market
Many suspects don’t understand their right to remain silent
In Brief
Boosting minority achievement
Where’s the progress?
And social justice for all
Helping new Americans find their way
Segregation’s ongoing legacy
A new way to combat prejudice
Retraining the biased brain
Suppressing the ‘white bears’
How to eat better — mindlessly
Protect your aging brain
Must babies always breed marital discontent?
Outing addiction
Flourish 2051
The danger of stimulants
Keys to making integrated care work
Is technology ruining our kids?
Facebook: Friend or foe?
The promise of Web 3.0
NIMH invests in IT enhanced interventions
Science Directions
Science Directions
PsycAdvocates work to safeguard key programs
The psychology of spending cuts
APA’s strategic plan goes live
Visionary leaders
Bravo!
Vote on bylaws amendments

Monitor on Psychology - October 2011

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