The residential stability mindset increases racial in-group bias in empathy

• Published in: Biological psychology 2021-10, Vol.165, p.108194-108194, Article 108194
• Main Authors: Xu, Ying, Chen, Shangyi, Kong, Qianting, Luo, Siyang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: EEG; Empathy; Racial bias; Residential mobility; TDCS
• ISSN: 0301-0511; 1873-6246
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2021.108194

With the deepening of internationalization, the population’s mobility has greatly increased, which can impact people’s intergroup relationships. The current research examined the hypothesis that residential mobility plays a crucial role in racial in-group bias in empathy (RIBE) with three studies. By manipulating the residential mobility/stability mindset and measuring subjective pain intensity ratings (Study 1) and event-related potentials (ERPs, Study 2) of Chinese adults on painful and neutral expressions of Asian and Caucasian faces, we found that the RIBE in subjective ratings and N1 amplitudes increased and P3 amplitudes decreased in the stability group. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) manipulation in Study 3 further found that anodal stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) increased the RIBE of participants with residential stability experience but had no effect on those with residential mobility experience. As residential mobility continues to increase worldwide, we may observe concomitant changes in racial intergroup relationships. •Residential stability mindset increases subjective rating of RIBE.•Residential stability mindset increases N1 amplitudes and decreases P3 amplitudes of RIBE.•Anodal stimulation of the DLPFC increased the RIBE of participants with residential stability experience.