Statistical learning and prejudice Guy Madison a* and Fredrik Ullén b a Department of Psychology, Umeå University b Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet a Department of Psychology, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden b Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden guy.madison@psy.umu.se fredrik.ullen@ki.se *Corresponding author: Email guy.madison@psy.umu.se +46 90 7866401 Abstract Human behavior is guided by evolutionarily shaped brain mechanisms that make statistical predictions based on limited information. Such mechanisms are important for facilitating interpersonal relationships, avoiding dangers, and seizing opportunities in social interaction. We thus suggest that it is essential for analyses of prejudice and prejudice reduction to take the predictive accuracy and adaptivity of the studied prejudices into account.