1. Prejudice and Stereotyping

2. Important Definitions
Ethnocentrism
Stereotypes
Prejudice and Racism
Ethnic and Other Prejudices
Allport (1954)
Discrimination
Clark & Clark, 1953; Beuf, 1977

3. Ethnocentrism (Wade and Tavris, 1999)
The belief that one’s own cultural or ethnic group is superior to all others
Examples:
Chinese word for China = Center of the World
Navajo term for selves = “The People”
Manifested in beliefs that 1 sex, ethnicity, religion, school, community, country, SES, etc. is better than another

4. Stereotypes (Wade and Tavris 2000)
Definition: summary impression of a group of people in which a person believes that all members of a group share a common trait or traits
Distortions Created by Stereotypes
Accentuation of group differences
Production of selective perception
Underestimation of within group differences

5. Prejudice & Racism
“Prejudice and racism describe ways in which people devalue, disadvantage, demean, and in general, unfairly treat others.” (In Prejudice and Racism; Jones, 1997)

6. Ethnic Prejudice
“Ethnic prejudice is an antipathy based upon a faulty and inflexible generalization. It may be felt or expressed. It may be directed toward a group as a whole or toward an individual because he is a member of that group.”
(In The Nature of Prejudice; Allport 1954)

7. Allport Revisited
Two important elements in his definition of prejudice:
Prejudice is a negative attitude
Prejudice puts the object of prejudice at an unjust disadvantage (i.e., prejudice is negative, unjust, and a source of disadvantage for its targets)
Note: Prejudice is not just about ethnicity e.g. sexism, homophobia, ableism, religionism, classism, geographicism, adultism, etc.

8. Sources of Prejudice Socialization: passed from caregivers to children
Social Benefits: often brings support from others who share the same prejudice that may result in loss of support if not maintained
Economic Benefits & Justification of Discrimination: arises when people are in direct competition for jobs

9. Discrimination
“Discrimination consists of negative behavior toward a person based on negative attitudes one holds toward the group to which the person belongs, or, positive behavior toward a person based on positive attributes one holds toward the group to which that person belongs.” (In Prejudice and Racism; Jones, 1997)

10. Social Consequences of Prejudice and Discrimination
1944 Clark, M. Changes in primary mental abilities with age
1946 The Northside Child Development Center in Harlem
Clark & Clark, 1953 Brown V. Board of Education of Topeka
1977 Beuf, A. Biting Off the Bracelet: Red Children in White America
Beauty is the Beast

11. Reducing Prejudice
Education, self-esteem, and religious/spiritual conversion (prob. w/ Dutch Reform Church & Apartheid)
Contact hypothesis (prob. w/cliques)
Law (Title IX, Affirmative Action, Prop. 187, English Only)
Working toward a common goal

12. Effective Strategies for Reducing Prejudice & Conflict
Both sides must cooperate for a common goal
Both sides must have equal status & standing
Both sides must believe they have the moral, legal, and economic support of authorities
Both sides must have opportunities to work and socialize together formally & informally
(Amir, 1994; Brewer, 1986; Kohn, 1992; Stephan & Brigham, 1985; Stephan & Stephan, 1992)