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Dilution Effect

Explanations > Theories > Dilution Effect

Description | Example | So What? | See also | References

Description

Stereotyping leads people to show bias and inaccurate judgment towards other people. This effect can be reduced or even eliminated when information is given to them about the stereotyped people.

This information can be innocuous and unrelated to the subject of bias. For example where they live, what their parents do, and so on.

Dilution works by reducing reliance on the representativeness heuristic, where we assume one person in an out-group is much like another.

Example

My brother-in-law is a well-off dentist. He likes gardening and playing tennis. His wife used to be a secretary in a local company. His father was a teacher in a local school.

So what?

Using it

Tell other people seemingly-irrelevant personal details about yourself or people you want them to trust or like more.

Defending

Beware of your own stereotypes, and also beware of people bending your views of others.

See also

Contact Hypothesis, Mere Exposure Theory, Out-Group Homogeneity, Propinquity Effect, Representativeness Heuristic, Stereotypes

References

Nisbett, Zukier and Lemley (1981), Hilton and Fein (1989)

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Site Menu

| Home | Top | Quick Links | Settings |

Main sections: | Disciplines | Techniques | Principles | Explanations | Theories |

Other sections: | Blog! | Quotes | Guest articles | Analysis | Books | Help |

More pages: | Contact | Caveat | About | Students | Webmasters | Awards | Guestbook | Feedback | Sitemap | Changes |

Settings: | Computer layout | Mobile layout | Small font | Medium font | Large font | Translate |

Please help and share:

Quick links

Disciplines

* Argument
* Brand management
* Change Management
* Coaching
* Communication
* Counseling
* Game Design
* Human Resources
* Job-finding
* Leadership
* Marketing
* Politics
* Propaganda
* Rhetoric
* Negotiation
* Psychoanalysis
* Sales
* Sociology
* Storytelling
* Teaching
* Warfare
* Workplace design

Techniques

* Assertiveness
* Body language
* Change techniques
* Closing techniques
* Conversation
* Confidence tricks
* Conversion
* Creative techniques
* General techniques
* Happiness
* Hypnotism
* Interrogation
* Language
* Listening
* Negotiation tactics
* Objection handling
* Propaganda
* Problem-solving
* Public speaking
* Questioning
* Using repetition
* Resisting persuasion
* Self-development
* Sequential requests
* Storytelling
* Stress Management
* Tipping
* Using humor
* Willpower

Principles

Explanations

* Behaviors
* Beliefs
* Brain stuff
* Conditioning
* Coping Mechanisms
* Critical Theory
* Culture
* Decisions
* Emotions
* Evolution
* Gender
* Games
* Groups
* Habit
* Identity
* Learning
* Meaning
* Memory
* Motivation
* Models
* Needs
* Personality
* Power
* Preferences
* Research
* Relationships
* SIFT Model
* Social Research
* Stress
* Trust
* Values

Theories

* Alphabetic list
* Theory types

And

– About
– Guest Articles
– Blog!
– Books
– Changes
– Contact
– Guestbook
– Quotes
– Students
– Webmasters

| Home | Top | Menu | Quick Links |

© Changing Works 2002-
Massive Content — Maximum Speed