Abstract
The current study explored a potential prejudice reduction strategy and sought to examine how exposure to a way of thinking about the origin and development of human beings, along with pre-existing beliefs about human origins, influence racial attitudes and prejudice. In a computer-based procedure, participants (N = 158) viewed a narrated presentation about human origins, either a scientific evolutionist account designed to induce a broader, more inclusive in-group identity or a biblical creationist account, and completed measures of universal orientation and implicit and explicit racial attitudes. Presentation type did not differentially influence universal orientation or implicit or explicit racial attitudes. However, participants with creationist beliefs were found to be lower in universal orientation and higher in symbolic racism than participants with non-creationist beliefs. Implications and future research directions are discussed.