The goal of the proposed investigation is to understand the inclusion process for targets of stigma in settings where they have traditionally been marginalized. The approach used is social identity threat (SIT) theory, a situational threat that one can experience based on the knowledge that one's social identity (e.g. sex, race, etc.) may be a source of devaluation in a setting. It is hypothesized that this sense of threat may lead to mistrust in settings for targets. Thus, the specific aim of this research is to understand how cues in a setting will impact trust and threat for targets of stigma. Five experiments examine this using two specific cues: (1) diversity messages, and, (2) proportion of members in a setting that share the target's social identity. Studies 1 and 2 examine the impact of the prescribed cues on trust and test threat as a cognitive mediator. Studies 3 and 4 examine whether trust can be increased for targets without explicit attempts to acknowledge identity. Study 5 explores cues that may repair trust. Collectively, these studies empirically test SIT theory. Recently, psychologists have examined the effects of threat for health outcomes (e.g. stress, hypertension) for targets of stigma. By focusing this investigation on cues that increase trust and decrease threat, it has the potential to explicate how to structure settings to maximize positive physical health outcomes for targets of stigma. ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
5F31MH067535-02
Application #
6660802
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-SSS-C (29))
Program Officer
Desmond, Nancy L
Project Start
2002-09-19
Project End
2004-06-18
Budget Start
2003-09-19
Budget End
2004-06-18
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$22,545
Indirect Cost
Name
Stanford University
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
009214214
City
Stanford
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94305