Implicitly and explicitly measured attitudes towards foreigners: A dual-process model perspective

要旨

Intergroup attitudes are one of the individual difference constructs which may influence motivation to learn a second language (L2) or willingness to communicate in an L2. Drawing on the APE model (a dual-process model which postulates the distinction between explicitly and implicitly measured attitudes), the current study examined 71 Japanese university students' attitudes towards foreigners by utilizing three types of attitudinal measures: self-evaluation about one's prejudice towards foreigners, verbal reports of images about foreigners, and one's implicit association scores obtained by means of the filtering unconscious matching implicit emotions (FUMIE) test. Results indicated that the participants tended to respond in a neutral way on the self-evaluation, whereas the FUMIE test indicated significantly positive attitudes towards foreigners. Further, a dissociation of implicitly and explicitly measured attitudes was found. Finally, the three measures had no significant impact on motivational intensity. The findings are discussed in terms of the dual-process model of attitudes, and implications are provided for future research on intergroup attitudes in the field ofL2 learning and communication.