Unit 12: Social Psychology CHS AP Psychology Unit 12: Social Psychology Essential Task 12-5: Describe processes that contribute to differential treatment of group members with specific attention to prejudice. Logo Green is R=8 G=138 B=76 Blue is R= 0 G=110 B=184 Border Grey is R=74 G=69 B=64

Introduction This demonstration is based on an actual study by Hamilton and Gifford (1979).

Instructions You will see a series of statements, each describing a person performing some type of behavior. Each person belongs to either Group A or Group B. After all statements have been presented, you will respond with your impressions.

John visited a friend in the hospital.

Allen dented the fender of a parked car and didn’t leave his name.

Bill is rarely late for work.

Bob helped a child.

Tom shared his lunch with a co-worker.

Scott cheated on an exam.

Alan planted seedlings in a park.

Henry went out of his way to return a lost wallet to the owner.

Nathan took neighborhood kids swimming.

John is considered a very dependable co-worker.

Chad always talks about himself and his problems.

Josh finished his homework on time.

Lane is well-like by his colleagues.

Davis read a story to his daughter.

Ron made prank phone calls to his teacher.

Bruce never returns library books on time.

Ken helped a lost child in a supermarket.

David converses easily with people he doesn’t know well.

Fred gave blood to the Red Cross.

Alex kicked a dog.

Devin donated his clothes to charity.

Mark learned how to fly an airplane.

Gary earned an “A” on his research paper.

Ted ran a red light.

Jeff volunteered to tutor needy students.

Richard yelled at a boy who bumped into him.

Eric drove his elderly neighbor to the grocery store.

Vincent forgot about his job interview.

Keith organized a birthday party for a friend.

Colin works out to keep himself in good shape.

Robert talks with food in his mouth.

Scott received a promotion at work.

Norman often tailgates when he is driving

Eliot sings in the church choir.

William rarely washes his car.

Pete is recognized as an excellent musician.

Don took a hurt stray dog to the vet.

Roger repaired his neighbor’s lawnmower.

Craig helped a friend move.

Done!

Group Ratings I will hand you a chart to help you rate each group. Be patient…. 

Group Ratings Attribute: Group A Group B Popular Lazy Unhappy Intelligent Honest Irresponsible Helpful Unpopular

Group Ratings Your next task is to rate each of the groups. Use the scale below: 1: Strongly Disagree 7: Strongly Agree You should use intermediate values as well as these two extremes.

Debriefing Group A (n = 26 members) 18 positive statements 8 negative statements 9:4 ratio of positive to negative statements Group B (n = 13 members) 9 positive statements 4 negative statements 9:4 ratio of positive to negative statements

Debriefing The ratio of positive and negative events was exactly the same for Group A and Group B! Did we rate the Groups the way we should have? Are our ratings of the Groups exactly equal?

Illusory Correlation This demonstration illustrates an Illusory Correlation – the perception of a relationship where none exists, or perception of a stronger relationship than actually exists. Another way to think of it – a false impression that two variables correlate.

Illusory Correlation The joint occurrence of two distinctive events probably attracted more attention and caused faulty impressions.

Illusory Correlation Examples: It always rains on the weekend It always rains after you wash the car The phone always rings when you are in the shower Librarians are quiet Doctors are wealthy

Illusory Correlation The Illusory Correlation may be one reason individuals become prejudiced. Research has shown that White Americans overestimate the arrest rate of African Americans (Hamilton & Sherman, 1996). African Americans = minority Arrest Rate = distinctive event

Components of Prejudice Simply called “prejudgment,” a prejudice is an unjustifiable (usually negative) attitude toward a group and its members. Prejudice is often directed towards different cultural, ethnic, or gender groups. Components of Prejudice OBJECTIVE 13| Identify three components of prejudice. Beliefs (stereotypes) Emotions (hostility, envy, fear) Predisposition to act (discrimination)

Reign of Prejudice Prejudice works at the conscious and [more at] the unconscious level. Therefore, prejudice is more like a knee-jerk response than a conscious decision. (ie. heuristic)

How Prejudiced are People? Over the duration of time many prejudices against interracial marriage, gender, homosexuality, and minorities have decreased. OBJECTIVE 14| Contrast overt and subtle forms of prejudice, and give examples of each.

Racial & Gender Prejudice Americans today express much less racial and gender prejudice, BUT prejudices still exist.

Social Roots of Prejudice Why does prejudice arise? Social Inequalities Social Divisions Emotional Scapegoating Need to categorize OBJECTIVE 15| Discuss the social factors that contribute to prejudice.

Social Inequality Prejudice develops when people have money, power, and prestige, and others do not. Social inequality increases prejudice.

Social Divisions Ingroup: People with whom one shares a common identity. Outgroup: Those perceived as different from one’s ingroup. Ingroup Bias: The tendency to favor one’s own group. Mike Hewitt/ Getty Images Scotland’s famed “Tartan Army” fans.

Emotional Roots of Prejudice Prejudice provides an outlet for anger [emotion] by providing someone to blame. After 9/11 many people lashed out against innocent Arab-Americans, or people they perceived to be of Arab descent. OBJECTIVE 16| Explain how Scapegoating illustrates the emotional component of prejudice.

Cognitive Roots of Prejudice One way we simplify our world is to categorize. We categorize people into groups by stereotyping them. OBJECTIVE 17| Cite four ways that cognitive processes help create and maintain prejudice. Michael S. Yamashita/ Woodfin Camp Associates Foreign sunbathers may think Balinese look alike.

Cognitive Roots of Prejudice In vivid cases such as the 9/11 attacks, terrorists can feed stereotypes or prejudices (terrorism). Most terrorists are non-Muslims.

Sources of Prejudice Frustration-aggression theory People who are frustrated in their goals may turn their anger away from the proper target toward another, less powerful target. (Scapegoat) Authoritarian personality Personality pattern characterized by rigid conventionality, exaggerated respect for authority, and hostility toward those who defy social norms Racism Prejudice and discrimination directed at particular racial group

We shall overcome Recategorize – expand a schema to see how it relates to others. Not protestant vs. Catholic but instead both under Christianity. Controlled Processing – purposefully putting on their shoes. Method to learn tolerance Increase contact between groups. Equal status One-on-one contact Come together to cooperate, not compete Should not be contrived