The cultural boundaries of perspective-taking: when and why perspective-taking reduces stereotyping

Wang, C S, Lee, M, Ku, G and Leung, A K-y (2018) The cultural boundaries of perspective-taking: when and why perspective-taking reduces stereotyping. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 44 (6). pp. 928-943. ISSN 0146-1672

Abstract

Research conducted in Western cultures indicates that perspective-taking is an effective social strategy for reducing stereotyping. The current article explores whether and why the effects of perspective-taking on stereotyping differ across cultures. Studies 1 and 2 established that perspective-taking reduces stereotyping in Western but not in East Asian cultures. Using a socioecological framework, Studies 2 and 3 found that relational mobility, that is, the extent to which individuals’ social environments provide them opportunities to choose new relationships and terminate old ones, explained our effect: Perspective-taking was negatively associated with stereotyping in relationally mobile (Western) but not in relationally stable
(East Asian) environments. Finally, Study 4 examined the proximal psychological mechanism underlying the socioecological effect: Individuals in relationally mobile environments are more motivated to develop new relationships than those in relationally stable environments. Subsequently, when this motivation is high, perspective-taking increases self-target group overlap, which then decreases stereotyping.