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The Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP ) and the Malleability of Ageist Attitudes

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Abstract

The current study examined the malleability of implicit attitudes using the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP). In Experiment 1, “similar” and “opposite” were presented as response options with the sample terms “old people” and “young people” and various positive and negative target stimuli. Results showed significantly faster response latencies for consistent (e.g., Similar- Positive-Young People) compared to inconsistent tasks (e.g., Similar-Positive-Old People). Explicit measures did not correlate with this IRAP effect. Experiment 2 determined whether prior exposure to pictures of admired and disliked old and young individuals had an impact on IRAP performance. Results revealed that pro-old exemplars reduced the pro-young IRAP effect, but reversed the anti-old effect, and this held for 24 h; explicit measures were largely unaffected. The findings suggest that the IRAP provides an informative measure of attitudechange following pro- versus anti-exemplar training.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Co., Kildare, Ireland

    Claire Cullen, Dermot Barnes-Holmes & Yvonne Barnes-Holmes

  2. Department of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland

    Ian Stewart

Authors
  1. Claire Cullen
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  2. Dermot Barnes-Holmes
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  3. Yvonne Barnes-Holmes
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  4. Ian Stewart
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Correspondence to Claire Cullen.

Additional information

Preparation of the current article was supported by postgraduate scholarships awarded to Claire Cullen from the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology, and from NUI, Maynooth (John and Pat Hume Postgraduate Scholarships Scheme).

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Cullen, C., Barnes-Holmes, D., Barnes-Holmes, Y. et al. The Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP ) and the Malleability of Ageist Attitudes. Psychol Rec 59, 591–620 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395683

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