Effects of a companion dog on associations of danger and threat with oriental-looking targets |
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Authors: | Nilüfer Aydin Bartosz Gula Julia Albrecht Marcel Obermeier Eva Lermer Michaela Pfundmair |
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Institution: | 1. Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Austria;2. Ludwig-Maximilians-University München, München, Germany;3. University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
FOM University of Applied Sciences, Munich, Germany |
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Abstract: | In the current study we extend previous findings on the shooter bias toward targets with Arab ethnicity. In an adapted shooter task, we presented stereotypically oriental-looking targets without explicit symbols of Islam (e.g., a turban) and additionally tested if presenting a “harmless” companion dog, together with Arab versus White targets, would affect the shooter bias. Participants responded faster and made fewer errors for armed Arab than for armed White targets. Moreover, compared to the “neutral” no dog condition, the presence of a dog triggered fewer false alarms for White than for Arab targets and slowed down (correct) responses in general. Implications and potential underlying mechanisms are discussed. |
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Keywords: | shooter bias prejudice anti-Arab attitudes companion dog stereotypical processing |
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