Dr Tabassum Alvi Assistant Professor Psychiatry/Behavioural Sciences Majmaah University

  Apply the definitions of the term stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination  Describe how stereotypes are formed and maintained  Explain how stereotypes affects the way we perceive and behave  Discuss how stereotyping can be eliminated Objectives

  Stereotyping is the attribution to a person of a number of characteristics or traits, which are assumed to be typical of the group to which the individual belong.  Thus the presumed characteristics of the group are generalised and applied to all individual of group Stereotypes

  Stereotyping is a normal part of thinking process  It help us simplifying information, categorize it and use it with ease. Stereotypes

  Examples : 1. Blacks are inferior to whites 2. Homosexual are sick people 3. Afghani are terrorist 4. Women are weak Stereotypes

  Stereotypes are based on minimal information derived from second and third hand information (TV, Radio, News paper )  Prejudiced person has little direct experience of the group  Based on evaluative judgement predicted in advance on the basis of some arbitrary characteristic Stereotypes

  It is defined as an attitude (usually negative ) towards member of some group, based solely on their membership in that group  Difference between Prejudice & Discrimination  Prejudice is a negative attitude  Discrimination is negative action Prejudice

  Children acquire prejudice early in life  Prejudice are stable over time  They only loosen when cultural and social norms change  Higher social class, education and intelligence are associated with lower level of prejudice Prejudice

 Socialization  Many prejudices seem to be passed along from parents to children.  The media—including television, movies, and advertising Factors that contribute towards Prejudice

 Conforming behaviours.  Prejudices may bring support from significant others, so rejecting prejudices may lead to losing social support. Factors that contribute towards Prejudice

 Economic benefits.  Social studies have confirmed that prejudice especially rises when groups are in direct competition for jobs. (women get jobs easily, white are preferred over black people )  This may help to explain why prejudice increases dramatically during times of economic and social stress. Factors that contribute towards Prejudice

 Authoritarian personality.  People with an authoritarian personality rigidly conform, submit without question to their superiors, reject those they consider to be inferiors, and express intolerant sexual and religious opinions. Factors that contribute towards Prejudice

 Ethnocentrism.  Ethnocentrism is the tendency to evaluate others' cultures by one's own cultural norms and values. Group closure.  Group closure is the process whereby groups keep clear boundaries between themselves and others Factors that contribute towards Prejudice

 Conflict theory.  Under conflict theory, in order to hold onto their distinctive social status, power, and possessions, privileged groups are invested in seeing that no competition for resources arises from minority groups. Factors that contribute towards Prejudice

 Allport (1954) proposed five stages of ethnic discrimination 1.Antiloculation 2.Avoidance 3.Discrimination 4.Physical attack 5.Extermination Stages of Ethnic Discrimination

  Hostile talk  Verbal attack Antiloculation

  Systemic avoidance of the other group.  Segregation is an extreme example of avoidance Avoidance

  Exclusion in term of civil rights, jobs and educational opportunities  Example; people with mental illnesses Discrimination

  Violence against people and property of other groups Physical Attack

  Deliberate killing and murder of member of the other group Example; suicide bombers Extermination

  The self ‐ esteem hypothesis, is that when people have an appropriate education and higher self ‐ esteem, their prejudices will go away. Solutions to prejudice

  Contact hypothesis, which states that the best answer to prejudice is to bring together members of different groups so they can learn to appreciate their common experiences and backgrounds. Solutions to prejudice

  Cooperation hypothesis, holds that conflicting groups need to cooperate by laying aside their individual interests and learning to work together for shared goals. Solutions to prejudice

 Legal hypothesis, is that prejudice can be eliminated by enforcing laws against discriminative behaviour. Solutions to prejudice

  Refrence : Psychological basis of psychiatry : M S Thambiraja page

THANKS