Stereotypes Prejudices Discrimination Xenophobia

Stereotypes  {over}generalization s  about the members of a group  a formed image (label)  tends to be negative  starts from young age

Stereotype Examples  Asians  Good at math  Hard working  Short and petite  Black  Criminals  Good at sports  Nice singing voices  Women  Enjoy cooking  Nurturing  Enjoy gossiping  Jews  Rich  Cheap  Politicians  Muslims  Wear turbans  Violent  Arabs  Men  Not emotional  Jock/strong  Love sports

Can stereotypes be positive?

The Pain of Positive Stereotypes Asian-American vs. white person math packet test Two packets  Math problems  Verbal problems Rigged coin flipped to select who gets what White person handed math packet to Asian  “How about you take this packet, and I’ll work on this one.” Rated  how much they liked partner  how much they felt depersonalized White used positive stereotype = Asian felt depersonalized / angry Asian felt dislike for partner Positive Stereotypes  Take away individuality  Force you into a group  Take away identity

Prejudice  involves a prejudgment  an attitude that includes usually negative feelings (such as contempt, dislike, or loathing)  about a group or its members  stereotypes could explain a prejudice  creates a bias in favor or against

Discrimination  involves putting group members at disadvantage or treating them unfairly  is a result of their group membership

Xenophobia  Dislike or fear of foreigners  An intense and irrational feeling  Hostility toward non- natives  In the 90s, xenophobic outbursts were followed by an increase in acts of racist violence

Effects of Stereotyping Distort perception Affects behavior: how people are treated Leads to poor judgment Missed opportunities Can discourage change People believe stereotypes about themselves Loss of identity while avoiding stereotype Impacts on mood and behavior  Depression  Violence  Aggression  Over-eating  Inability to focus  Irrational decisions  Poor interpersonal skills

Combatting Prejudice & Xenophobia Know your values Traveling Meeting and learning from different people Dialogue with an open mind Avoiding stereotypical statements Share compliments Learn to laugh at comments Be ready to defend others Awareness of subconscious prejudices when making decisions Help build a culture of acceptance

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