Faith in Intuition moderates the effects of positive affect on gender stereotyping

This study examined whether individual differences in Faith in Intuition (FI) moderate the effect of PA on gender stereotyping. Participants (N = 89) completed a measure of individual differences in FI and were randomly assigned in a 2 (mood, positive or neutral) × 2 (target sex, male or female) factorial design. After reading a description of a college student, identified as male or female, participants rated the likelihood that target would major in engineering (stereotypically male) and education (stereotypically female). A significant intuition × mood condition × target sex interaction emerged: Within the positive mood condition, FI was associated with stereotyping. Implications for research on mood and cognition as well as Cognitive Experiential Self Theory are discussed.

► Positive affect (PA) is associated with the tendency to use stereotypes. ► We measured Faith in Intuition, induced mood, and measured stereotyping. ► Faith in Intuition moderated the relationship between mood and stereotyping. ► PA predicted greater stereotyping only for those high in Faith in Intuition. ► Individual differences are important in the relation of mood to cognition.