Bias at the board: implicit gender stereotypes and dual-task effects in chess evaluations

Using the Stereotype Content Model (SCM), the research explores whether moves attributed to male versus female players are evaluated differently and investigates how increased cognitive load moderates these biases. Experienced chess players rated the quality of mid-game chess moves attributed to eit...

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Main Authors: Remy M. J. P. Rikers, Sofie M. M. Loyens
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Cogent Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311908.2025.2517918
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author Remy M. J. P. Rikers
Sofie M. M. Loyens
author_facet Remy M. J. P. Rikers
Sofie M. M. Loyens
author_sort Remy M. J. P. Rikers
collection DOAJ
description Using the Stereotype Content Model (SCM), the research explores whether moves attributed to male versus female players are evaluated differently and investigates how increased cognitive load moderates these biases. Experienced chess players rated the quality of mid-game chess moves attributed to either male or female players. Each move was accompanied by a fictional player’s name and photo. Half of the trials included a dual-task condition requiring participants to count chess pieces while evaluating the moves, introducing additional cognitive load. Ratings were analyzed for bias and accuracy, with gender and dual task as within-subject factors. Moves attributed to male players were rated significantly higher than similar moves attributed to female players, indicating implicit gender bias. However, participants were more accurate in evaluating moves attributed to female players, suggesting heightened scrutiny. Under dual-task conditions, participants demonstrated improved accuracy overall, likely due to the cognitive demands of the secondary task disrupting heuristic-based judgments. Gender-based biases persisted but were less pronounced under dual task conditions. Implicit gender biases influence chess evaluations, with stereotypes about male competence skewing judgments. A dual task disrupted heuristic processing, offering a potential pathway to mitigating biases.
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spelling doaj-art-48319bb472ed4d2e9cc3386b5d9d4f482025-08-20T03:45:28ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Psychology2331-19082025-12-0112110.1080/23311908.2025.2517918Bias at the board: implicit gender stereotypes and dual-task effects in chess evaluationsRemy M. J. P. Rikers0Sofie M. M. Loyens1Utrecht University, Department of Social Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The NetherlandsUtrecht University, Department of Social Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The NetherlandsUsing the Stereotype Content Model (SCM), the research explores whether moves attributed to male versus female players are evaluated differently and investigates how increased cognitive load moderates these biases. Experienced chess players rated the quality of mid-game chess moves attributed to either male or female players. Each move was accompanied by a fictional player’s name and photo. Half of the trials included a dual-task condition requiring participants to count chess pieces while evaluating the moves, introducing additional cognitive load. Ratings were analyzed for bias and accuracy, with gender and dual task as within-subject factors. Moves attributed to male players were rated significantly higher than similar moves attributed to female players, indicating implicit gender bias. However, participants were more accurate in evaluating moves attributed to female players, suggesting heightened scrutiny. Under dual-task conditions, participants demonstrated improved accuracy overall, likely due to the cognitive demands of the secondary task disrupting heuristic-based judgments. Gender-based biases persisted but were less pronounced under dual task conditions. Implicit gender biases influence chess evaluations, with stereotypes about male competence skewing judgments. A dual task disrupted heuristic processing, offering a potential pathway to mitigating biases.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311908.2025.2517918Implicit biasgender stereotypeschess evaluationsstereotype content modeldual tasksperformance equity
spellingShingle Remy M. J. P. Rikers
Sofie M. M. Loyens
Bias at the board: implicit gender stereotypes and dual-task effects in chess evaluations
Cogent Psychology
Implicit bias
gender stereotypes
chess evaluations
stereotype content model
dual tasks
performance equity
title Bias at the board: implicit gender stereotypes and dual-task effects in chess evaluations
title_full Bias at the board: implicit gender stereotypes and dual-task effects in chess evaluations
title_fullStr Bias at the board: implicit gender stereotypes and dual-task effects in chess evaluations
title_full_unstemmed Bias at the board: implicit gender stereotypes and dual-task effects in chess evaluations
title_short Bias at the board: implicit gender stereotypes and dual-task effects in chess evaluations
title_sort bias at the board implicit gender stereotypes and dual task effects in chess evaluations
topic Implicit bias
gender stereotypes
chess evaluations
stereotype content model
dual tasks
performance equity
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311908.2025.2517918
work_keys_str_mv AT remymjprikers biasattheboardimplicitgenderstereotypesanddualtaskeffectsinchessevaluations
AT sofiemmloyens biasattheboardimplicitgenderstereotypesanddualtaskeffectsinchessevaluations