DOI: 10.5061/dryad.jwstqjqmv
title: Reducing racial ingroup biases in empathy and altruistic decision-making by shifting racial identification

description: Findings of racial ingroup biases in empathy and social behaviors require
 understanding of relevant psychological and brain mechanisms. Using
 self-report, behavioral, EEG, and fMRI measures, we tested the hypothesis
 that racial identification provides a cognitive basis for racial ingroup
 biases in empathy and altruistic decision-making. We showed that a mask
 training procedure using other-race facial disguises altered self-face
 perception and promoted identification with the other race. Shift in
 racial identification modulated the medial prefrontal activity, increased
 electrophysiological responses to pain expressions of other-race faces,
 enhanced the right premotor/frontal/insular activities in response to
 perceived painful stimulation to other-race individuals, and decreased
 own-race favoritism in altruistic decision-making. Furthermore, the medial
 prefrontal activity related to the shift in racial identification
 predicted greater neural responses to other-race pain after the training
 procedure. Our findings highlight the shift of racial identification as a
 psychological basis for reducing racial ingroup biases in social emotions
 and behaviors.
description: # Reducing racial ingroup biases in empathy and altruistic decision-making
 by shifting racial identification
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.jwstqjqmv](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.jwstqjqmv) ## Description of the data and file structure This dataset contains the statistical data and R codes required to replicate analyses in the paper entitled "Reducing racial ingroup biases in empathy and altruistic decision-making by shifting racial identification", testing the hypothesis that racial identification based on perception of one’s own face provides a cognitive basis for racial ingroup biases in empathy and altruistic decision-making.  ### Files and variables #### File: Experiment\_1.zip **Description:** Rating scores for racial identification and R codes for statistical analysis in Experiment 1. **spssdata.csv** This file contains rating scores for racial identification obtained from four groups of participants before and after mask training procedures (MTP). The following text describes the information contained in its six lines. (1) SubID: Subject ID (2) Group: Control: Asian participants underwent the MTP using Asian facial disguises; Test1: Asian participants underwent the MTP using White facial disguises; Test2: Asian participants underwent the MTP using Black facial disguises; Test3: White participants underwent the MTP using Asian facial disguises. (3) SR_Pre: Before the MTP, rating scores of own-race identification. (4) SR_Post: After the MTP, rating scores of own-race identification. (5) OR_Pre: Before the MTP, racial identifications with the worn facial disguise. (6) OR_Post: After the MTP, racial identifications with the worn facial disguise. **Statics.R (for spssdata.csv)** The R code uses the *bruceR* package to estimate repeated measures analysis of variance. #### File: Experiment\_2.zip **Description:** Reaction times in a racial categorization task and R codes for statistical analysis in Experiment 2.  **Data4Lmm.csv** This file contains reaction times of racial faces obtained from four groups of participants. The following text describes the information contained in its seven lines. (1) SubID: Subject ID (2) ACC: Accuracies of participants' responses. (3) RT: Reaction time of participants' responses. (4) Stim: Markers of the stimuli. (5) Time: Before or after the MTP. (6) Race: Racial identities of the stimuli. (7) Group: Control: Asian participants underwent the MTP using Asian facial disguises; Test1: Asian participants underwent the MTP using White facial disguises; Test2: Asian participants underwent the MTP using Black facial disguises; Test3: White participants underwent the MTP using Asian facial disguises. **Statics.R (for Data4Lmm.csv)** The R code uses the packages *lme4, lmerTest, etc.* to estimate linear mixed models. #### File: Experiment\_3.zip **Description:** Brain activities associated with shifts in racial identification and R codes for statistical analysis in Experiment 3. **ROI_ContrastValue_mPFC.csv** This file contains contrast values of the medial prefrontal cortex obtained from two groups of participants. The following text describes the information contained in its four lines. (1) SubID: Subject ID (2) Group: 1: Asian participants underwent the MTP using Asian facial disguises; 2: Asian participants underwent the MTP using White facial disguises. (3) Self_PostvsPre: Contrast values (after vs. before the MTP) of the medial prefrontal cortex for the worn facial disguises. (4) Other_PostvsPre: Contrast values (after vs. before the MTP) of the medial prefrontal cortex for the unselected facial disguises. **Statics.R (for ROI_ContrastValue_mPFC.csv)** The R code uses the *bruceR* package to estimate repeated measures analysis of variance. #### File: Experiment\_4.zip **Description:** Event-related potentials (ERPs, P2 amplitudes) in response to pain and neutral expressions of own-race or other-race faces and R codes for statistical analysis in Experiment 4. **Data4Lmm.csv** This file contains the P2 amplitudes obtained from two groups of participants. The following text describes the information contained in its seven lines. (1) SubID: Subject ID (2) ACC: Accuracies of participants' responses. (3) RT: Reaction time of participants' responses. (4) Stim: Markers of stimuli. (5) Trial: Trial numbers. (6) Group: 1: Asian participants underwent the MTP using Asian facial disguises; 2: Asian participants underwent the MTP using White facial disguises. (7) P2: The P2 amplitudes. **Statics.R (for Data4Lmm.csv)** The R code uses packages *lme4, lmerTest, etc.* to estimate linear mixed models. #### File: Experiment\_5.zip **Description:** Brain activities in response to painful and non-painful stimulations to own-race or other-race models in Experiment 5. **AfterMTP_ROI_AffectiveNetwork.csv & AfterMTP_ROI_CognitiveNetwork.csv** The two files contain brain activities related to affective and cognitive empathy networks after the MTP. The following text describes the information contained in its six lines. (1,1) WhiteMTP: Asian participants underwent the MTP using White facial disguises. (1,2) Asian MTP: Asian participants underwent the MTP using Asian facial disguises. (2,1; 2,4) WhiteIFC/ (2,2; 2,5) WhitePremotor/ (2,3; 2,6) WhiteAI: Contrast values (painful vs. non-painful stimulations) of the right inferior frontal cortex, right premotor cortex, and right insula in response to White models. (2,1; 2,4) WhiteRightTPJ/ (2,2; 2,5) WhiteLeftTPJ/ (2,3; 2,6) WhiteRightSTS: Contrast values (painful vs. non-painful stimulations) of the bilateral temporoparietal junction and right superior temporal sulcus in response to White models. **Correlation_mPFC_Premotor.csv** This file contains contrast values of brain activities after the MTP. The following text describes the information contained in its two lines. (1) AfterMTP_SelectedvsUnselected: Contrast values (worn vs. unselected facial disguises) of the medial prefrontal cortex after the MTP.  (2) AfterMTP_WhitePainfulvsNeutral: Contrast values (painful vs. non-painful stimulations) of the right premotor cortex in response to White models after the MTP.  #### File: Experiment\_6.zip **Description:** Behavioral data in a monetary donation task and R codes for statistical analysis in Experiment 6. **Altruistic_Decision_Making.csv** This file contains participants' altruistic decisions in a monetary donation task. The following text describes the information contained in its nine lines. (1) SubID: Subject ID (2) Response: Participants' responses (1 = choice left; 2 = choice right). (3) LRace: Race pixels of the left morphed face. (4) LPain: Pain pixels of the left morphed face. (5) RRace: Race pixels of the right morphed face. (6) RPain: Pain pixels of the right morphed face. (7) Time: Before and after the MTP. (8) Group: Asian mask: Asian participants underwent the MTP using Asian facial disguises; White mask: Asian participants underwent the MTP using White facial disguises. (9) Trial: Trial numbers. **Statics.R (for Altruistic_Decision_Making.csv)** The R code uses packages *lme4, lmerTest, etc.* to estimate linear mixed models. #### File: Supplementary\_Experiment\_1.zip **Description:** Rating scores for individual identification and R codes for statistical analysis in Supplementary Experiment 1.  **spssdata.csv** This file contains rating scores of individual identification obtained from four groups of participants. The following text describes the information contained in its four lines. (1) SubID: Subject ID (2) Group: Control: Asian participants underwent the MTP using Asian facial disguises; Test1: Asian participants underwent the MTP using White facial disguises; Test2: Asian participants underwent the MTP using Black facial disguises; Test3: White participants underwent the MTP using Asian facial disguises. (3) PreMTP: Rating scores of individual identification before the MTP. (4) PostMTP: Rating scores of individual identification after the MTP. **Statics.R (for spssdata.csv)** The R code uses the *bruceR* package to estimate repeated measures analysis of variance. #### File: Supplementary\_Experiment\_2.zip **Description:** Reaction times in a perceptual matching task and R codes for statistical analysis in Supplementary Experiment 2.  **Data4Lmm.csv** This file contains reaction times in response to the worn and unselected facial disguises obtained from four groups of participants. The following text describes the information contained in its eight lines. (1) SubID: Subject ID (2) ACC: Accuracies of participants' responses. (3) RT: Reaction times of participants' responses. (4) Time: Before and after the MTP. (5) Identity: Self: the worn facial disguises; Other: the unselected facial disguises. (6) Cong: Associations between the facial disguises and shapes. (7) Group: Control: Asian participants underwent the MTP using Asian facial disguises; Test1: Asian participants underwent the MTP using White facial disguises; Test2: Asian participants underwent the MTP using Black facial disguises; Test3: White participants underwent the MTP using Asian facial disguises. **Statics.R (for Data4Lmm.csv)** The R code uses packages *lme4, lmerTest, etc.* to estimate linear mixed models. #### File: Supplementary\_Experiment\_3.zip **Description:** ERPs (P3 amplitudes) in response to the worn and unselected facial disguises in Supplementary Experiment 3.  **Data4Lmm.csv** This file contains the P3 amplitudes obtained from two groups of participants. The following text describes the information contained in its seven lines. (1) SubID: Subject ID (2) ACC: Accuracies of participants' responses. (3) RT: Reaction times of participants' responses. (4) Identity: Self: the worn facial disguises; Other: the unselected facial disguises. (5) Cong: Associations between the facial disguises and shapes. (6) Group: Control: Asian participants underwent the MTP using Asian facial disguises; Test: Asian participants underwent the MTP using White facial disguises. (7) P3: The P3 amplitudes. **Statics.R (for Data4Lmm.csv)** The R code uses packages *lme4, lmerTest, etc.* to estimate linear mixed models. #### File: Supplementary\_Experiment\_4.zip **Description:** Behavioral data in a recognition task and R codes for statistical analysis in Supplementary Experiment 4. **Data4Lmm.csv** This file contains recognition accuracies of trait judgment related to worn and unselected facial disguises. The following text describes the information contained in its eight lines. (1) SubID: Subject ID (2) NOACC: Accuracies of participants' responses when identifying each adjective as a new or old word. (3) NORT: Reaction times of participants' responses when identifying each adjective as a new or old word. (4) RKACC: Accuracies of participants' responses when identifying each adjective as remember or simply know. (5) RKRT: Reaction times of participants' responses when identifying each adjective as remember or simply know. (6) Identity: Self: the worn facial disguises; Other: the unselected facial disguises. (7) Cong: Associations between the facial disguises and shapes. (8) Group: Control: Asian participants underwent the MTP using Asian facial disguises; Test: Asian participants underwent the MTP using White facial disguises. **Statics.R (for Data4Lmm.csv)** The R code uses packages *lme4, lmerTest, etc.* to estimate linear mixed models. #### File: Supplementary\_Experiment\_5.zip **Description:** Behavioral data in an asynchronous condition and a video of the MTP in Supplementary Experiment 5.  **Example_MTP.mp4** A video of the MTP (Asian participants underwent the MTP using White facial disguises) is presented in Supplementary Experiment 5.  **RaceIdentification.csv** This file contains rating scores for racial identification obtained from participants who observed another individual performing the MTP in the video. (1) SubID: Subject ID (2) SR_Pre: Before observing the MTP, rating scores of own-race identification. (3) SR_Post: After observing the MTP, rating scores of own-race identification. (4) OR_Pre: Before observing the MTP, racial identifications with the other's worn facial disguise. (5) OR_Post: After observing the MTP, racial identifications with the other's worn facial disguise. **RaceCategorization.csv** This file contains reaction times in response to Asian and White faces obtained from participants who observed another individual performing the MTP in the video. (1) SubID: Subject ID (2) Face.ACC: Accuracies of participants' responses. (3) Face.RT: Reaction times of participants' responses. (4) Marker: Markers of the stimuli (11/10 White faces; 21/20 Asian faces). (5) Time: Before and after the MTP.