The purpose of this research is to investigate precursors in the development of stereotypes based on gender, attractiveness, and masculinity/femininity appearance cues. Examining these precursors will be a first step toward understanding how emotionally-laden, stereotypic attributes become linked to groups of people who are similar in appearance. The development of appearance-based stereotypes is important to understand because of the deleterious effects resulting from the stereotypes, such as negative judgment and treatment (e.g., Langlois et al., 2000). In addition, stereotypes related to appearance cues affect perceptions and treatment of mental and physical health (e.g., Nehls, 1998; Kaplan, Winget, & Free, 1990; Langlois et al., 2000; Masline & Davis, 1975; Morash, Haarr, & Rucker, 1994; Rhodes et al., 2001; Swenson & Ragucci, 1984), and internalization of these stereotypes may lead to actual differences in social competence and health (Grimmelll & Stern, 1992; Kopper & Epperson, 1996; Matter & Matter, 1989; Umberson & Hughes, 1987). Thus, it is important to understand the origins of these stereotypes. Using two commonly accepted methods for testing infants (familiarization and visual preference paradigms), the proposed studies will investigate how the cues of gender, attractiveness, and masculinity/femininity contribute to making some faces seem more """"""""familiar"""""""" than others. Familiarity of faces should elicit infants' visual preferences (e.g., Hunter & Ames, 1988) and subsequently guide their categorization of faces into groups based on these cues. Infants' visual preferences for and categorization of certain types of faces are two developmental processes posited to precede linking of stereotypic attributions to groups of people (e.g., Ramsey, Langlois, Hess, Rubenstein, & Griffin, in press; Zebrowitz-McArthur, 1982). Results have implications for understanding early stereotype development and informing interventions aimed at reducing stereotypes.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
1R03HD048467-01
Application #
6852107
Study Section
Pediatrics Subcommittee (CHHD)
Program Officer
Maholmes, Valerie
Project Start
2005-01-01
Project End
2006-12-31
Budget Start
2005-01-01
Budget End
2005-12-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$73,750
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Nevada Las Vegas
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
098377336
City
Las Vegas
State
NV
Country
United States
Zip Code
89154
Kumar, Deepak; Moore, Robert M; Mercer, Brian M et al. (2016) The physiology of fetal membrane weakening and rupture: Insights gained from the determination of physical properties revisited. Placenta 42:59-73
Joyce, E M; Diaz, P; Tamarkin, S et al. (2016) In-vivo stretch of term human fetal membranes. Placenta 38:57-66
Rennels, Jennifer L; Kayl, Andrea J; Langlois, Judith H et al. (2016) Asymmetries in infants' attention toward and categorization of male faces: The potential role of experience. J Exp Child Psychol 142:137-57
Rennels, Jennifer L; Langlois, Judith H (2015) Children's beliefs in reciprocation of biases and flexibility. J Exp Child Psychol 137:39-56
Rennels, Jennifer L; Kayl, Andrea J (2015) Differences in Expressivity Based on Attractiveness: Target or Perceiver Effects? J Exp Soc Psychol 60:163-172
Rennels, Jennifer L; Langlois, Judith H (2014) Children's classification and lexicalization of attractiveness, gender, and race: differential displays of these concepts and relatedness to bias and flexibility. J Exp Child Psychol 126:1-18
Rennels, Jennifer L; Langlois, Judith H (2014) Children's attractiveness, gender, and race biases: a comparison of their strength and generality. Child Dev 85:1401-18
Cummings, Andrew J; Rennels, Jennifer L (2014) How Mood and Task Complexity Affect Children's Recognition of Others' Emotions. Soc Dev 23:80-99
Rennels, Jennifer L; Cummings, Andrew J (2013) Sex Differences in Facial Scanning: Similarities and Dissimilarities Between Infants and Adults. Int J Behav Dev 37:111-117
Joyce, Erinn M; Moore, John J; Sacks, Michael S (2009) Biomechanics of the fetal membrane prior to mechanical failure: review and implications. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 144 Suppl 1:S121-7

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