HSS: To the Roots of the Prejudiced Personality: How (All) Prejudice Comes from a Basic Human Need

In the long history of psychological research on prejudice, Allport’s (1954) book, "The Nature of Prejudice" is undoubtedly the foundational work, advancing ideas that remain highly influential and relevant to this day. Guided by the seminal ideas of this leading scholar, I will illustrate how contemporary psychological research has accumulated evidence for a basic, motivated cognitive style underlying prejudice in its different forms. Specifically, in my talk, I will argue that Allport's classic conception of this basic cognitive style is exceptionally well captured by the contemporary construct of need for cognitive closure (NFC), and I will review the recent evidence for NFC effects on racism and sexism. Integrating Allport's writings with contemporary research, I also will show that the effects of motivated cognition on prejudice are explained (i.e., mediated) by essentialist thinking and authoritarian ideology. Finally, I will discuss recent evidence indicating that, in contrast to Allport's pessimistic predictions, intergroup contact is especially effective in reducing prejudice among people high in NFC. It can be concluded that recent research on NFC provides a solid empirical basis for Allport's hypothesis that a general motivated cognitive style lies at the basis of prejudice.