Eisenstadt Benjamin E, Spagna Alfredo, Stroessner Steven J
Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
Pers Soc Psychol Rev. 2024 Sep 16:10888683241273350. doi: 10.1177/10888683241273350.
How do social stereotypes shape and reflect images formed in the mind's eye? Visual mental imagery has long been assumed crucial in creating, maintaining, and perpetuating stereotypes and prejudice. Surprisingly, research in social cognition has only recently begun to explore the causal role of mental images in these phenomena. In contrast, cognitive neuroscience research on visual mental imagery (VMI) has explored the pivotal role of imagery in various consequential cognitive and behavioral phenomena. However, cognitive neuroscience has largely neglected how stereotypes influence mental imagery. This article provides a historical overview of the development of these two fields in terms of mental imagery and discusses recent advances at their intersection. Opportunities for additional integration are highlighted, and suggestions for furthering the dual study of stereotyping and mental imagery are provided.
How can social stereotypes impact and mirror visual imagination? It has long been assumed that visual mental imagery plays a central role in forming, maintaining, and strengthening stereotypes and prejudice. Yet, until recently, there has been limited exploration within social psychology and cognitive neuroscience on the explicit connection between visual mental images and social stereotypes. We describe the historical progression of these fields concerning visual imagery and explore recent advancements that unite stereotyping and mental imagery research. Furthermore, we propose avenues for future research to deepen our understanding of how individuals utilize mental images in stereotyping and how mental imagery can modify stereotypes.
社会刻板印象如何塑造并反映脑海中形成的意象？长期以来，视觉心理意象一直被认为在刻板印象和偏见的形成、维持及延续过程中起着关键作用。令人惊讶的是，社会认知领域的研究直到最近才开始探讨心理意象在这些现象中的因果作用。相比之下，关于视觉心理意象（VMI）的认知神经科学研究已经探讨了意象在各种重要认知和行为现象中的关键作用。然而，认知神经科学在很大程度上忽略了刻板印象如何影响心理意象。本文从心理意象的角度对这两个领域的发展进行了历史概述，并讨论了它们交叉领域的最新进展。文中强调了进一步整合的机会，并为推进刻板印象与心理意象的双重研究提供了建议。
社会刻板印象如何影响并反映视觉想象？长期以来，人们一直认为视觉心理意象在形成、维持和强化刻板印象及偏见方面起着核心作用。然而，直到最近，社会心理学和认知神经科学对视觉心理意象与社会刻板印象之间的明确联系的探索还很有限。我们描述了这些领域在视觉意象方面的历史发展，并探讨了将刻板印象研究与心理意象研究结合起来的最新进展。此外，我们提出了未来研究的方向，以加深我们对个体如何在刻板印象中运用心理意象以及心理意象如何改变刻板印象的理解。
