Psychologists have long been directing their energy to the domain of moral judgment or moral prediction, assuming that when extended to moral behaviour, results will prove consistent. The aim of this research was to explore the dissociation between moral prediction and moral behaviour. Pilot research suggests that people expect others to act less morally than they say they would. The results of two experiments, however, suggest the opposite. In both studies, participants were assigned to either a moral action condition, where they were placed in a moral dilemma, or a moral prediction condition, in which they had to predict their behavior in that dilemma. In Study 1, the Dictator Game was used to measure morality, whereas in Study 2, cheating behaviour was measured. In both experiments, participants acted more morally than they predicted they would. This research has implications for scrutinizing the applicability of previous work on moral self-prediction.

Males were given false feedback that they scored low, high, or no feedback (control group) on masculinity and given a “masculine” food (meat pizza), a “feminine” food (vegetarian pizza), or the choice between the two to eat. An interaction between masculinity condition and food condition was found when the “feminine” food condition and the Control group were removed, such that low-masculine participants given meat pizza ate a small amount, as did high-masculine participants given a choice. High-masculine participants given meat pizza ate a large amount of food as did low-masculine participants given a choice. In certain situations males want to appear masculine and therefore eat a larger amount of food, or want to appear attractive on other dimensions and therefore eat a smaller amount of food.

Males were given false feedback that they scored low, high, or no feedback (control group) on masculinity and given a “masculine” food (meat pizza), a “feminine” food (vegetarian pizza), or the choice between the two to eat. An interaction between masculinity condition and food condition was found when the “feminine” food condition and the Control group were removed, such that low-masculine participants given meat pizza ate a small amount, as did high-masculine participants given a choice. High-masculine participants given meat pizza ate a large amount of food as did low-masculine participants given a choice. In certain situations males want to appear masculine and therefore eat a larger amount of food, or want to appear attractive on other dimensions and therefore eat a smaller amount of food.

Psychologists have long been directing their energy to the domain of moral judgment or moral prediction, assuming that when extended to moral behaviour, results will prove consistent. The aim of this research was to explore the dissociation between moral prediction and moral behaviour. Pilot research suggests that people expect others to act less morally than they say they would. The results of two experiments, however, suggest the opposite. In both studies, participants were assigned to either a moral action condition, where they were placed in a moral dilemma, or a moral prediction condition, in which they had to predict their behavior in that dilemma. In Study 1, the Dictator Game was used to measure morality, whereas in Study 2, cheating behaviour was measured. In both experiments, participants acted more morally than they predicted they would. This research has implications for scrutinizing the applicability of previous work on moral self-prediction.

Previous research on stereotyping has focused on perceptions of and negative consequences for individuals who activate stereotypes based on their membership in one stigmatized group. In contrast, relatively little research has examined stereotyping following categorization of targets into more than one stigmatized group. This dissertation focuses on perceptions of individuals who activate more than one set of stereotypes. In particular, I focused on the combination of stereotypes associated with the older adult age group and the Black racial group - two stereotype sets which contain elements that directly contradict one another. To examine the interaction of these two sets of stereotypes, I examined perceptions of four types of targets: young Black men, young White men, old Black men, and old White men. In Chapter 1, I examine perceptions of anger and happiness on the faces of young and old Black and White men. These perceptions are examined among young (Study 1a) and old (Study 1b) perceivers. In Chapter 2, I attempt to bias these perceptions of facial emotion in line with race or age stereotypes using a categorization priming procedure. The final three studies examine more basic perceptions of these targets of interest. I examine current and projected trait-related perceptions of novel (Chapter 3) and famous (Chapter 4) young and old Black and White men at various points across the lifespan. Finally, in Chapter 5, I directly compare these four targets on a number of traits using a forced-choice comparison task for both current and projected ratings. Overall, the results of this dissertation suggest that race-based and age-based stereotypes combine via a process of selective inhibition. Specifically, old Black and White men are characterized according to the old age stereotypes which most strikingly contrast them against their younger counterparts. Compared with their corresponding young targets, this pattern results in relatively positive evaluations of older Black men, but relatively negative evaluations of older White men.

The psychological literature on mental health has shown that oppressions such as racism, sexism and classism can be extremely stressful. Thus individuals' identities, such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status, and the oppression these can lead to have clinical implications. The current research sought to investigate the intersection of Black Canadian women's identities and how it contributes to their unique experience of depression and coping. The aim of this study was to identify significant experiences of depression and coping of this population in order to develop a theory of healing.

The psychological literature on mental health has shown that oppressions such as racism, sexism and classism can be extremely stressful. Thus individuals' identities, such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status, and the oppression these can lead to have clinical implications. The current research sought to investigate the intersection of Black Canadian women's identities and how it contributes to their unique experience of depression and coping. The aim of this study was to identify significant experiences of depression and coping of this population in order to develop a theory of healing.

Previous research on motivation by role models has not examined how the source of a role model’s success might influence motivation. In Studies 1 and 2 participants were asked to estimate their motivation in response to role models. In Study 3 role models were provided and behavioural intentions were assessed. The results of these first three studies indicate that both talented and hardworking role models are motivating, but that they motivate different things: Talented role models motivate people to access their talents, and hardworking role models motivate people to work hard. Having established that both types of role models can activate motivation, implicit theories orientation was examined as a possible moderator of the effect. In Study 4 participants completed an implicit theories induction task before reading about a role model. There were no differences observed between the entity and incremental conditions. In Study 5 entity and incremental theorists were recruited and exposed to a role model. Incremental theorists who had read about a hardworking role model were motivated to work hard.

Previous research on motivation by role models has not examined how the source of a role model’s success might influence motivation. In Studies 1 and 2 participants were asked to estimate their motivation in response to role models. In Study 3 role models were provided and behavioural intentions were assessed. The results of these first three studies indicate that both talented and hardworking role models are motivating, but that they motivate different things: Talented role models motivate people to access their talents, and hardworking role models motivate people to work hard. Having established that both types of role models can activate motivation, implicit theories orientation was examined as a possible moderator of the effect. In Study 4 participants completed an implicit theories induction task before reading about a role model. There were no differences observed between the entity and incremental conditions. In Study 5 entity and incremental theorists were recruited and exposed to a role model. Incremental theorists who had read about a hardworking role model were motivated to work hard.

Biracial people are often stereotyped as cold and socially awkward. Two experiments assessed whether the racial context in which they are perceived influences the application of these stereotypes. Participants read about a Black/White student who chose or was assigned a White, Black or Black/White roommate. Roommate race was manipulated via photographs (Experiment 1), or written description (Experiment 2). When photos were provided, roommate race, not the relationship, influenced target evaluations. The biracial target with a White roommate was viewed the least positively and as least similar to participants, implying his minority status was highlighted by his roommate’s race. The written description produced only relationship effects. When the target chose his roommate he was evaluated as warmer, more competent and with more positive regard than when he was assigned a roommate. The results suggest that visual vs. narrative racial contexts produce divergent evaluations of biracial people.