Prejudice

An unjustifiable attitude toward a group and its members Based on the exaggerated notion that members of other social groups are very different from members of our own social group Usually involves stereotyped beliefs, negative feelings, and a predisposition to discriminatory action Usually involves a negative attitude

Categorization The tendency to group similar objects May be a means to explain stereotypes

Stereotype A generalized belief about a group of people Stereotypes are sometimes accurate but often overgeneralized. Because stereotypes sometimes have a kernel of truth, they are easy to confirm, especially when you see only what you expect to see. Can be both misleading and damaging

Studying stereotypes 3 levels of stereotypes in today’s research public what we say to others about a group

Studying stereotypes 3 levels of stereotypes in today’s research private what we consciously think about a group, but don’t say to others

Studying stereotypes 3 levels of stereotypes in today’s research implicit unconscious mental associations guiding our judgments and actions without our conscious awareness See The Hidden Prejudice video clip (Scientific American Frontiers (6 minutes)The Hidden Prejudice video clip Take the Test! On Weebly!

Studying Implicit Stereotypes Use of priming: subject doesn’t know stereotype is being activated, can’t work to suppress it Bargh study have subjects read word lists, some lists include words like “gray,” “Bingo,” and “Florida” subjects with “old” word lists walked to elevators significantly more slowly another study flash pictures of Black vs. White faces subliminally give incomplete words like “hos_____,” subjects seeing Black make “hostile,” seeing White make “hospital”

Implicit Stereotypes Devine’s automaticity theory stereotypes about African-Americans are so prevalent in our culture that we all hold them these stereotypes are automatically activated whenever we come into contact with an African-American we have to actively push them back down if we don’t wish to act in a prejudiced way. Overcoming prejudice is possible, but takes work

Ingroup “Us” People with whom one shares a common identity

Outgroup “Them” Those perceived as different or apart form “us” (the ingroup)

Out-Group Homogeneity Effect 1. Typically, we describe the members of our in-group as being quite varied, despite having enough features in common to belong to the same group 2. We tend to see members of the out-group as much more similar to one another, even in areas that have little to do with the criteria for group membership.

Ingroup Bias The tendency to favor one’s own group usually at the expense of the outgroup We make favorable, positive attributions for behaviors by members of our in-group unfavorable, negative attributions for behaviors by members of out- groups

Ingroup Bias Ethnocentrism - belief that one’s own culture or ethnic group is superior to others

The Basis for Prejudice In combination, stereotypes and in-group/out-group bias form the cognitive basis for prejudicial attitudes. Prejudice also has a strong emotional component, which is intensely negative and involves hatred, contempt, fear, and loathing Behaviorally, prejudice can be displayed in the form of discrimination

Discrimination In social relations, taking action against a group of people because of stereotyped beliefs and feelings of prejudice

Scapegoat Theory The theory that prejudice provides an outlet for anger by providing someone to blame Example: Nazi Germany blaming the Jews for the troubles in Germany after WWI.

Just-World Phenomenon The tendency to believe that people get what they deserve and deserve what they get Reflects attitude that good is rewarded and evil is punished

Stereotype Threat The knowledge of the stereotype about your group adds pressure on you to prove it false that causes you to not perform at your highest level.

Accounting for Prejudice

Accounting for Prejudice: Two Theories 1. Prejudice and intergroup hostility increase when different groups are competing for scarce resources 2. People are prejudiced against groups that are perceived as threatening important in-group norms and values Social psychologists have increasingly come to believe # 2 is more correct.

Overcoming Prejudice

Reducing Prejudice Initially, researchers thought simple contact between conflicting groups would reduce prejudice (contact theory) They now think that prejudice can be overcome when rival groups cooperate to achieve a common goal

Social Identity and Cooperation Social identity theory: States that when you’re assigned to a group, you automatically think of that group as an in-group for you Sherif’s Robbers Cave study (Video)Video 11–12 year old boys at camp Boys were divided into 2 groups and kept separate from one another Each group took on characteristics of distinct social group, with leaders, rules, norms of behavior, and names

Robbers Cave (Sherif) Leaders proposed series of competitive interactions which led to 3 changes between groups and within groups within-group solidarity negative stereotyping of other group hostile between-group interactions A fierce rivalry quickly developed

Robbers Cave (Sherif) To restore harmony, Sherif created a series of situations in which the two groups would need to cooperate to achieve a common goal After a series of joint efforts, the rivalry diminished and the groups became friends.

Realistic Conflict Theory Overcoming the strong we/they effect establishment of superordinate goals – a goal that benefits everyone but requires everyone’s cooperation e.g., breakdown in camp water supply overcoming intergroup strife - research stereotypes are diluted when people share individuating information

Patricia Devine’s 3-step process to Individual Prejudice Reduction 1. Individuals must decide that prejudiced responses are wrong and consciously reject prejudice and stereotyped thinking 2. They must internalize their nonprejudiced beliefs so that they become an integral part of their personal self-concept 3. Individuals must learn to inhibit automatic prejudicial reactions and deliberately replace them with nonprejudiced responses that are based on their personal standards