How did you react to your results? Were you surprised? Angry or hurt? Pleased? Discuss what you felt and why you think you felt what you did.


I wasn't really surprised. When I was taking the test I could guess what the results would be. I feel like I could have done even "better" if I had concentrated more. I took this test before, after reading Blink, and got slightly different results that I was completely happy with. I think that I don't want to be racist at all, so I was happy with the results that said I had no preference.

Do you believe that your test results say something about you that you should pay attention to? Why or why not?

This time I think the test results had more to do with my confusion over the method of taking the test than my actual feelings. I had a hard time getting used to the test at the beginning. I also think that it is difficult to change underlying biases. I think that even if the test did show drastic results, it would be very difficult to change the way I subconsciously feel about a certain thing. All I can do is work on my conscious behavior.



Do you think that these tests are valid? When you first saw your results, did you question or accept the tests' validity?

I did question the validity of the test the first time I took it, even though I was content with my results. It seemed like a set up: the first "round" white was on the left, and black was on the right. The second round good was on the left and bad was on the right. The third round, black and good was on the right and white and bad were on the left. This was weird because I was used to having good on the left, so I picked the "e" key instead of the "i" key not because I was bias, but because I was trained to the test a certain way.





Give examples of the cultural messages that many support attitudes linking a dominant group in your nation or culture with "good" or "superior" attributes and a subordinate group with "bad" or "inferior" ones. Are these attitudes generalizations that can be called stereotypes? How can generalizations be distinguished from stereotypes?



Saying that African Americans are poor or that Native Americans are really spiritual and have a strong connection to nature are two cultural messages that I often hear. This message makes African Americans seem inferior and Native Americans seem superior. Yes, I think these can be called stereotypes. Sometimes, generalizations are different than stereotypes in that when people generalize, they are trying to be more constructive and stereotypes are more destructive/derogatory. For example, I someone generalized that most Mexicans like spicy food, they might use the generalization when preparing a meal for, say, a Mexican exchange student. A stereotype, such as, "All Irishmen are drunks," is very destructive and would not help anyone.

If some of our consciously held beliefs, attitudes, and values are undermined by what Gladwell calls rapid cognition (others call this intuitive thinking or even gut feelings), what do you suggest we can do to combat jumping to (false) conclusions?

This is extremely difficult to do and I think almost not worth it. We could try to train our subconscious to believe what we consciously believe by watching movies, reading books, listen to music, traveling, or talking to people which support and who believe what we want to support and believe.