Busy and prejudiced : does executive functioning moderate stereotype application under cognitive load? Thesis University of Queensland, School of Psychology.

Cognitive load and executive functioning (the ability to control thoughts, actions and impulses) have been shown to independently influence the extent individuals apply activated stereotypes. The current study investigated whether cognitive load and executive functioning interact to predict discrimination towards Muslim applicants in a workplace simulation. Fifty university students participated in the current study. They completed executive functioning tasks, read about a terrorism article, and completed a recruitment task, filling in two vacant positions for the company. Half of the participants were randomly assigned to complete the recruitment task under cognitive load. It was predicted that participants under cognitive load would discriminate against Muslim applicants more than participants not under cognitive load, and that better executive functioning would attenuate the influence of cognitive load. Contrary to predictions, the presence of cognitive load did not predict participants’ discrimination against Muslim applicants. Also contrary to predictions, executive functioning did not moderate the relationship between cognitive load and discrimination. Explanations for the findings, limitations of the study and implications for future research are discussed. (Author/publisher)