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Statistical learning and prejudice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2012

Guy Madison  and
Fredrik Ullén
Guy Madison
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden. guy.madison@psy.umu.se
Fredrik Ullén
Affiliation:
Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. fredrik.ullen@ki.se
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Abstract

Human behavior is guided by evolutionarily shaped brain mechanisms that make statistical predictions based on limited information. Such mechanisms are important for facilitating interpersonal relationships, avoiding dangers, and seizing opportunities in social interaction. We thus suggest that it is essential for analyses of prejudice and prejudice reduction to take the predictive accuracy and adaptivity of the studied prejudices into account.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 35 , Issue 6 , December 2012 , pp. 440 - 441
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012 

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