Reconsidering Categorization-Related Inferences from Multicultural and Colorblind Prejudice Reduction Interventions

A recurring social-psychological debate surrounds the role of social categorization in moderating prejudice. In the course of this debate, researchers have examined the effectiveness of prejudice reduction interventions, reducing or reinforcing social categorization (e.g., colorblind vs. multicultural interventions). Many of the conclusions drawn in this research domain have come from studies relying on operationalizations provided by Wolsko et al. In the present research, we assessed the convergent and discriminant validity of these canonical operationalizations. Using unobtrusive measures, we provide first evidence that the operationalizations may not produce the intended differential levels of social categorization. Furthermore, the operationalizations produced unintended differences in the extent to which intergroup relations are portrayed as beneficial. These findings suggest that differential effects of these operationalizations on measures of prejudice are subject to various alternative explanations to social categorization. A better understanding of how these interventions affect prejudice might help us refine them.