Talk:Nilanjana Dasgupta

Too Vague to be Understood
I think it would be good if someone familiar with her research could rewrite this sentence to make it more accessible to the average reader:

"She theorized that four things influence stereotypes and prejudice, and should be taken into account when trying to change implicit biases: 1) self- and social-motives, 2) specific strategies, 3) the perceiver's focus of attention, and 4) configuration of stimulus cues."

There are a number of serious problems with this sentence which render it almost entirely unintelligible. First of all, it lacks direction. What does it mean to "influence" a stereotype? Does it mean to reinforce one? To counteract one? To alter its relevance in a given situation?

Second, the descriptions of the four factors are far too short to be understood. I don't expect a full exposition, but they should have a least a minimal context and direction. "Motives" for what? For forming stereotypes? Or the motives of the actors in a situation where a stereotype may play a role? Whose "strategies" are we talking about and what are they trying to achieve? What is the "perceiver" perceiving? What is the "stimulus" stimulating? Memories of stereotypes? Of what do the "cues" speak? Chappell (talk)