Memory deficits and memory surfeits: Differential cognitive consequences of tokenism for tokens and observers.

Investigated whether tokens (persons who are the only member of their social category) might suffer more cognitive deficits than nontokens and whether they do so even when they are treated no differently. 48 undergraduate students (acting either as participants or as observers) were led to believe that they were sharing their views on everyday topics with 3 other Ss (actually videotaped confederates) who were either all of the Ss' own sex or all of the opposite sex. In a later memory test, token Ss remembered fewer of the opinions that they and the 3 other Ss had expressed than did nontokens. Observers, in contrast, remembered more of what token Ss said than what the 3 other Ss said. Results suggest that being distinctive had different effects on the distinctive individuals than on those around them. Theoretical and public policy implications are discussed. (40 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)