Social Cognition, Vol. 26, No. 3, 2008, pp. 276–287 276 eMotioNal SUPPreSSioN, StereotYPeS bUrNS et al. SUPPRESSING EMOTIONS TOWARD STEREOTYPED TARGETS: THE IMPACT ON WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE IN CONTACT Kathleen C. Burns University of Wisconsin, Green Bay Linda M. Isbell University of Massachusetts, Amherst James M. Tyler Purdue University This paper explores the effects of emotional suppression toward a stereotyped target as a function of the perceivers’ prejudice. Heterosexual male participants watched a video of a gay couple with emotional suppression instructions or no instructions. Similar to the emotional regulation literature, low prejudice participants reported less positive emotion under emotional suppression compared to the control group. However, high prejudice participants reported more positive emotion under emotional suppression compared to the control group. These results suggest that high prejudice people were overcompensating in their emotional regulation attempts because of lesser regulation experience. Emotional suppression was also found to increase the desire for intergroup contact for those who were high in prejudice; positive emotion mediated this relationship. Possible benefts versus costs of emotional suppression toward stereotyped targets are discussed. While many people may be committed to acting in a non-prejudiced manner, the emotional remnants of prejudice may remain. Several studies have shown that people feel negative emotions toward outgroup members (e.g., Cottrell & Neu- berg, 2005; Fiske, Cuddy, Glick, & Xu, 2002; Mackie, Devos, & Smith, 2000). Out- We would like to thank Nilanjana Dasgupta and her lab group for their comments on an earlier draft of this article. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Kathleen C. Burns, Department of Psychology and Human Development, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, 2420 Nicolet Drive, Mary Ann Cofrin Hall C316, Green Bay, WI 54311. E-mail: burnsk@uwgb.edu.