The Use of Personality Chiasms in Stereotype Research1

In this research, notions from research using personality chiasms (Hofstee & Arends, 1994) are combined with normative considerations on how stereotype research should be conducted (Judd & Park, 1993). On the one hand, this research seeks to improve on studies using personality chiasms that have ignored issues involved in establishing the accuracy of national or ethnic stereotypes (e.g., use of criterion ratings). On the other hand, this research goes beyond traditional stereotype research using personality traits in including neutral trait adjectives. The sample of this study consists of 159 Indigenous Fijians and 177 Indo‐Fijians. Hypotheses concerning the prevalence of stereotypical exaggeration, ethnocentrism, and insensitivity in Fiji are supported. Furthermore, outcomes of this research show that concerns about the effects of social desirability on stereotypical exaggeration are somewhat but not completely justified.