1. Chapter 5 Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination

2. Defining Important Terms Racism: Prejudice and discrimination based on a person’s background Sexism: Prejudice and discrimination based on a person’s gender Stereotypes: Beliefs that associate a whole group of people with certain traits. Prejudice: Negative feelings about others because of their connection to a social group. Discrimination: Negative behaviors directed against persons because of their membership in a particular group.

3. Persistence and Change In general, stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination are less acceptable than ever before. But exceptions do exist.

4. Types of Racism Modern Racism: A form of racism that surfaces in subtle ways when it is safe, socially acceptable, and easy to rationalize Implicit Racism: Racism that operates unconsciously and unintentionally

5. Sexism: Ambivalence and Double Standards Blatant displays of sexism are less socially acceptable than in the past – But do continue to persist today Gender stereotypes are distinct in that they are not only descriptive, but also prescriptive – They tell people what they should do or be

6. Ambivalent Sexism Form of sexism characterized by attitudes about women that reflect both negative, resentful beliefs/feelings as well as affectionate and chivalrous but potentially patronizing beliefs/feelings – Hostile sexism – Benevolent sexism Seems to have diminished over time, but discrimination based on sex is still prevalent today

7. Stereotype Threat Stereotype threat is the fear that one will be reduced to a stereotype in the eyes of others. How can stereotype threat hamper academic achievement? – The reactions to the threat can directly interfere with performance. – The threat can cause individuals to dismiss the domain as no longer relevant to their self-esteem and identity.

8. Ingroups vs. Outgroups Strong tendency to divide people into ingroups and outgroups. Consequences – Exaggerate differences between ingroups and other outgroups – Outgroup homogeneity effect New research indicates that perceivers may actually process faces of outgroup members more like objects than fellow human beings Dehumanization has played a role in atrocities throughout history

9. Social Identity Theory Two Basic Predictions: – Threats to one’s self-esteem heighten the need for ingroup favoritism. – Expressions of ingroup favoritism enhance one’s self-esteem.

10. Confirmation Biases and Self-Fulfilling Prophecies Stereotypes are often maintained and strengthened through confirmation biases. – Tendency to interpret, seek, and create information to confirm expectations Stereotypes can cause a perceiver to act in such a way that the stereotyped group member really does behave in a stereotype- confirming way. – The stereotype creates a “self-fulfilling prophecy.”

11. How Stereotypes Survive and Self-Perpetuate Illusory correlation: The tendency for people to overestimate the link between variables that are only slightly or not at all correlated. Tend to overestimate the association between variables when: – The variables are distinctive – The variables are already expected to go together