Prejudice

How many ways are there to discriminate against people? List all the ways you can think of. What problems are caused by prejudice?

Define prejudice and discrimination Learning Objectives Define prejudice and discrimination Explain Tajfel’s Social Identity Theory as an explanation of prejudice

Prejudice ‘Pre’ (meaning before) and ‘judice’ (meaning justice) To make judgements about someone based on their membership of a group rather than their individual nature.

One of the greatest problems of humanity Leads to dehumanisation and violence Why study prejudice? If we understand how it is formed perhaps we can learn how to prevent it Prejudice- extreme, unfavourable attitude associated with three components:

1. Cognitive: Stereotypes: Social perception of an individual based on their group membership or physical attributes Overgeneralised belief based on limited information Generalisations – applied to all members Positive / negative

2. Affective: Feelings of hostility and hatred

3. Behavioural: In terms of prejudice can be displayed as avoidance, assault, joke-making or discrimination. Actively excluding an individual or groups from things they are entitled to

Not all of these components manifest at the same time. i.e. someone who is prejudiced may have the cognitive and affective component but not discriminate Why? Prevailing social norms or laws perhaps?

Causes of prejudice Individual Differences Obedience & prejudice down to dispositional factors? I.e. personality? How can it explain whole culture and societies being prejudiced? Anti-Semitism developed over 10 or so years Look at social factors that can explain how entire populations of people develop prejudiced attitudes Social identity theory Realistic conflict theory

Social Identity Theory – Tajfel (1970) The simple act of being grouped will inevitably lead to prejudice against another group. Tajfel classified group as in-groups or out-groups There are three stages to the Social Identity Theory

Absorbing the culture of that group – becomes a part of your social identity Tajfel (1970) - SIT Social categorisation Social identification Social comparison Look up these stages. In pairs discuss the definitions Automatic act of putting yourself into a group. In group = yours Out group = others Making your group appear better than the out group to boost your self esteem.

Personal identity – strive to achieve positive image linked to high self esteem Social Identity Identifying themselves by membership to certain social groups (social identification) Adopting characteristics – significance to your membership and self esteem (personal ID) is bound up with the group If social identity is favourable – personal identity of group members are positive. Boosting self esteem. Opposite is also true Social identity impacts on our personal identity Examples?

Football team – continued success? However if they lose several matches?

Social comparison: Defining and emphasising in-group characteristics to elevate social identity Comparing and derogating qualities of the out-group Achieved by 1. In-group favouritism – members unique and favourable - Heterogeneous 2. Negative out-group bias – members ‘all the same’ unfavourable - Homogenous Example!

Within a group – each member has a social identity Image based on the attributes of the group Group success =increases sense of belonging and self esteem Example? Football team – continued success? However if they lose several matches?

Tajfel (1971) Experiment 1 64 Schoolboys ages 14-15 groups of 8 (knew eachother) Experiment 2 Klee and Kandinsky

Can you find any images or headlines in the newspapers and magazines that show Social Identity Theory? Create a mood board of images/headlines