In-Group Bias: Stereotypes, Prejudice and Discrimination Case Studies: South African Apartheid Rwandan Genocide Jane Elliott’s Experiment

In-Groups and Out-Groups Social Identity Social categorization divide world into in-group (“us”) and out-group (“them”) When do we start categorizing?

In-Groups and Out-groups An in-group is a social group commanding a member’s esteem and loyalty; it is the one we identify with. An out-group is a social group toward which one feels competition or opposition. In-group bias: view our own group more favorably

Glossary Stereotypes - beliefs about attributes that are thought to be characteristic of members of particular groups. They can be either positive or negative. ex. Women are nurturing, car salesmen are dishonest Prejudice - A negative judgment or opinion formed about a group without knowledge of the facts. Discrimination - Treating someone less favorably based on the group, class or category they belong to. Discrimination is prejudice in action.

Stereotypes A mental image of a group based on opinion without regard to individual differences. Oversimplification or exaggeration about a group of people They can be either positive or negative. If individuals differ from stereotype, they are treated as exceptions. Which of these stereotypes are attributed to males and which ones to females? Aggressive Dependent Easily Influenced Dominant Passive Home-oriented Talkative Tough Rarely Cries Emotional Cruel

Forms of Prejudice Sexism : prejudice based on a person’s biological gender Racism: prejudice based on a person’s ethnicity Sectarianism : prejudice based on a person’s religious background and/or political beliefs Homophobia : prejudice based on a person’s sexual orientation Disability Prejudice: Prejudice based on a person’s physical or mental abilities Ageism: prejudice based on a person’s age What forms of prejudice are more preponderant in society today?

Sourcing the Problem Stereotypes, Ideas, and Beliefs Attitudes and Emotions Prejudice Discrimination

Discrimination in Society Legal Discrimination System of laws in a society allows for discrimination to occur Institutionalized Discrimination When discrimination and inequality become part of the social structure No necessity for dominant group to intentionally dominate minority group. More difficult to change because it runs deeper than the laws created.

Robert Merton: Patterns of Prejudice and Discrimination The Active Bigot Prejudiced and Openly discriminatory The Timid Bigot Prejudiced, but is afraid to discriminate because of society’s pressures The Fair-Weather Liberal Not prejudiced but discriminates anyway because of society’s pressures The All-Weather Liberal Not prejudiced and does not discriminate

Case Study: South Africa Under Apartheid It was a system of government in South Africa from 1948 to 1990. Apartheid means separation: the whites were separated from the black Africans and minorities. The white minority ruled the country and the black majority did not have many rights.

How did the world react to Apartheid? A lot of countries boycotted South Africa during Apartheid: they refused to buy its products. Film and pop stars refused to perform in South Africa

Sports Against Apartheid South Africa was absent from international sport events for most of the apartheid era due to sanctions A lot of teams and champions refused to compete either in South Africa or against South Africa

Nelson Mandela He was the most important anti-apartheid leader He spent 27 years in prison for his ideas In 1994 he became the first black president after the first free elections in South Africa. Used sports as a way to unite the country, especially the 1995 Rugby World Cup

Case Study: Rwandan Genocide April 1994 Fight between two ethnic groups Hutu majority conducted mass killings of Tutsi minority Around 800,000 people were killed over a period of 100 days

Jane Elliott - Blue Eyes and Brown Eyes Experiment 3rd Grade Teacher Jane Elliott Experiment conducted on the days after Martin Luther King assassination (1968) Wanted to explain discrimination to 8 year olds. Experiment deals with stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, and the creation of in-group bias.