Self-Directed Versus Other-Directed Affect as a Consequence of Prejudice-Related Discrepancies
Author(s)
Monteith, M. J.; Devine, P.; Zuwerink, J. R.
Abstract
Personal standards for responding toward gay males and affective reactions to discrepancies were examined for low prejudiced (LP) and high prejudiced (HP) participants in 2 studies. These standards and discrepancies involved responses varying in controllability and acceptability. Results indicated that LP participants experienced negative self-directed affect in connection with transgressions from their nonprejudiced and well-internalized standards, regardless of the type of response. HP participants’ personal standards were quite nonprejudiced and well internalized for relatively controllable and unacceptable prejudiced responses. Nevertheless, HP participants’ transgressions from their standards produced negative affect directed toward others but not toward the self, regardless of the type of response. The findings supported E. T. Higgins’s (1987) argument that the standpoint of standards determines affective reactions to discrepancies. Apparently, LP participants’ standards are based on the own standpoint, but HP participants’ standards are based on the other standpoint.
