The COVID-19 pandemic has impelled U.S. citizens to wear protective masks,
but wearing masks has been commonplace in many Asian countries (e.g.,
China) well before the pandemic. In two studies with U.S. participants (*N*=
456) collected two months apart, we examined explicit and implicit
perceptions of White and Asian mask-wearers. We also examined self-reports
of how regularly participants—and others around them—wear masks when in
public, as well as their fears of being stigmatized while wearing a mask.
Results from Study 1 (early May) indicated that participants’ explicit
ratings of a masked White or Asian male did not differ in terms of being
contagious or prosocial. In Study 2 (early July), a masked White male was
rated as less contagious and more prosocial than a non-masked White male.
These patterns were mirrored at the implicit level, such that masked
faces—regardless of race—were implicitly evaluated as more prosocial and
less contagious. Lastly, self-identified liberals were more likely to
report wearing a mask (both studies), being around others wearing a mask
(Study 1), whereas conservatives reported greater fears of being
stigmatized for wearing a mask (Study 2).
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All the best,
Jarrod
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Jarrod E. Bock, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychology
Towson University
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