Humanizing a Duke Student Will Change Stereotypes of the Group

In an experiment with UNC students, we asked them to help improve the job application of a peer. Once they felt empathy for his plight, they saw him as a unique individual deserving of assistance and liked him more. We had succeeded in changing their attitudes toward the student, but failed in changing their stereotypes of the group. When we meet group members who defy a stereotype, our first instinct isn't to see them as exemplars and rethink the stereotype. So that attempt also failed. Back to the drawing board again.