Strooped!
Most of us believe we can control what pieces of information influence our decisions. But can we? The Stroop Test suggests no.
Highlights
We are unable to ignore information even when it is irrelevant or likely to negatively interfere with the task before us.
Remember the Stroop Task! We couldn't set aside reading the word when asked to just name the ink its written in.
Outsmart visual biases by using these tips to lessen the impact of extraneous information:
1) Use blinding to remove information you don’t need.
2) Hide or remove unnecessary items like names and addresses from resumes and assignments before you see them. To discount or ignore information you’ve already seen is likely a losing battle.
Dive deeper
Links
Frank Stanton, the then-president of CBS, said of the Kennedy-Nixon debate: “Kennedy was bronzed beautifully… Nixon looked like death.” The legendary debate changed the face of political media strategy, but was it warranted? A 2003 study by political scientist James Druckman suggests, yes. People were significantly more likely to think Kennedy “won” the debate when they watched it versus listened to it.
Colors are one thing, but our decisions can also be influenced by something as insignificant as a single letter – whether we’re aware of it or not. Watch this video about how José Zamora dropped a single letter to gain a title, and read more about the research that shows how names can Stroop us.
References
Baumeister, R. F., & Tierney, J. (2011). Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength. Penguin.
Goldin, C., & Rouse, C. (2000). Orchestrating impartiality: The impact of” blind” auditions on female musicians. American Economic Review, 90(4), 715-741.
MacLeod, C. M. (1991). Half a century of research on the Stroop Effect: An integrative review. Psychological Bulletin, 109(2), 163-203.
Stroop, J. R. (1935). Studies of interference in serial verbal reactions. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 18(6), 643.
Credits
Strooped! was created and developed by Mahzarin Banaji, Olivia Kang, Kirsten Morehouse, and Evan Younger with support from PwC, Johnson & Johnson, and Harvard University.
Special thanks to the Bok Center’s Learning Lab Studio at Harvard University.
Narration by Olivia Kang
Animation & Editing by Evan Younger
Artwork by Olivia Kang
Assistant: Theodora Mautz
Music by J.S. Bach (performed by Advent Chamber Orchestra) and Olive Musique, Ben Beiny, Immersive Music, and Allegory Musia via Premium Beat
John F. Kennedy footage by CBS via JFK Library
© 2018 President and Fellows of Harvard College