BPOC 736, Multiculturalism and Human Relations

Question 1

What is the definition of “attitude”?

Answer 1

(1) a position based on one’s knowledge, feelings, and experiences about someone or something influencing them to behave in a certain way toward that person or things; (2) attitudes change with life experiences; (3) attitudes and life experience may exist in a correlative relationship; hence, a particular life experience may lead to a change in a particular attitude.

Question 2

What is the definition of “race”?

Answer 2

(1) “Race” generally refers to groups of people with common ancestry and physical characteristics; (2) Since no “pure” race exists, some prefer to avoid reference to race and instead discuss group differences under the heading of “ethnicity.” However, the existence of this concept is in dispute.

Question 3

What is the definition of “ethnicity”?

Answer 3

“Ethnicity” refers to shared culture and background. Members of an ethnic group usually have common ancestry and generally share language, religion, and other cultural patterns.

Question 4

What is the definition of “ethnocentrism”?

Answer 4

“Ethnocentrism” is the act of regarding one’s culture as the “center of the universe,” and hence as the basis for all comparisons with other cultures.

Question 5

What is the definition of “prejudice”?”

Answer 5

“Prejudice” refers to an adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge of or examination of the facts, i.e., bias.

Question 6

What is the definition of “culture”?

Answer 6

“Culture” refers to a way of thinking and acting based on tradition, i.e., learned behavior passed down from one generation to another.

Question 7

What is the definition of “discrimination”?

Answer 7

“Discrimination” refers to acting on the basis of prejudice.

Question 8

What do peace officers need to do with their personal biases?

Answer 8

They need to be aware of their prejudices, to work at reducing the impact of bias in their lives, and to keep their prejudices out of their job performance.

Question 9

What results from someone having the characteristic of “ethnocentrism”?

Answer 9

Ethnocentrism provides a source of egotistic satisfaction through comparing others with oneself.

Question 10

What results from someone having the characteristic of stereotyping and categorical treatment?

Answer 10

Stereotyping and categorizing affords a convenient grouping for people of whom one is not knowledgeable. Lumping or grouping such people together under a popular stereotyped description saves time and provides a convenient grouping.

Question 11

What results from someone having the characteristic of scapegoating?

Answer 11

Scapegoating provides a convenient group or person to blame when things go wrong in one’s personal life or in the community.

Question 12

What results from someone having the characteristic of projection?

Answer 12

Projection provides an outlet for projecting one’s tensions and frustrations onto other people.

Question 13

What results from someone having an authoritarian personality?

Answer 13

An authoritarian personality symbolizes one’s affiliation with a more dominant group.

Question 14

What results from societal strain?

Answer 14

Societal Strain leads to justification for various types of discrimination that are considered to be of advantage to the dominant group.

Question 15

What personality is characterized by a self-assured feeling that one is better than others, frequently expressed in inappropriate jokes and disparaging remarks directed to those regarded as inferiors?

Answer 15

A feeling of superiority

Question 16

What personality is characterized by a feeling that the other group is alien or different which promotes social exclusion and blocks any acceptance on individual merit?

Answer 16

A belief that others are “strange” or “different”

Question 17

What personality is characterized by a feeling that, as a member of the group, one believes he is entitled to exclusive or priority rights in a certain area.

Answer 17

Proprietary claims

Question 18

What personality is characterized by a feeling basic to prejudice that excites emotions to the point of overshadowing rational judgment. They believe that someone is trying to intrude and threaten the things that belong to them.

Answer 18

Fear

Question 19

You discussed 14 forms and targets of prejudice. How many can you name?

Answer 19

Racial, ethnic, gender, national origin, political affiliation, authority figures (i.e., police, government, teachers, parents), sexual orientation, differently abled, religious, age, economic/occupational (e.g., working class, working poor, upper class), weight, physically challenged, individual personal preferences (e.g., family feuds, antagonism between work departments like Vice and Patrol)

Question 20

What common needs do all of us share?

Answer 20

Social needs, health, employment, shelter, food, positive self-image

Question 21

When we categorize people and make judgments about them rather than evaluating them based on their individual character, what personality characteristic can this lead to?

Answer 21

Stereotyping.

Question 22

Name some of the concepts about human relations that come from the social scientists.

Answer 22

(1) Every individual is entitled to equal rights and dignities by virtue of being human; (2) The right to be free implies the right to be different; (3) We should try to understand people different from us; (4) Bill of Rights for Americans and individuals residing in U.S.; (5) Democracy cannot work for some unless it works for all.

Question 23

What are the key functions of discrimination?

Answer 23

Discrimination (1) tends to reinforce prejudice concerning the group’s alleged inferiority; (2) by any group limits the other group’s effectiveness in business, education, political office, etc.; (3) affords an avenue to economic exploitation of the group being discriminated against.

Question 24

Why is an officer in an especially sensitive position when working alone?

Answer 24

Solo officers must make decisions demanding impartiality on their part with no one but the citizen present to witness fairness.

Question 25

Peace officers must value, respect, and be sensitive to the feelings and needs of others. Name four important skills that should be used.

Answer 25

(1) Gather knowledge and information about the person(s); (2) be nonjudgmental; (3) tolerate ambiguity in messages, approaches different from your own, and differences in general; (4) show warmth, genuine interest, and empathy.

Question 26

Peace officers must be willing to communicate. Adverse consequences of insensitivity include:

Answer 26

(1) hurt feelings; (2) anger; (3) loss of personal and professional respect; (4) ineffective performances; (5) behavior.

Question 27

Name the positive consequences of sensitivity.

Answer 27

(1) respect of community; (2) respect from fellow professionals; (3) support for democratic principles; (4) self-respect

Question 28

What is the definition of cross-cultural communication?

Answer 28

A field of study that focuses on how people of differing cultures communicate with each other.

Question 29

What are the cultural values of Hispanic Americans?

Answer 29

(1) family, (2) faith, (3) social justice, (4) etiquette and manners, (5) cultural identity

Question 30

What are the cultural values of African Americans?

Answer 30

(1) culture, (2) music, (3) use more eye contact than other groups; (4) hug on greeting one another

Question 31

What are the cultural values of Vietnamese Americans?

Answer 31

(1) parenthood, (2) marriage, (3) home ownership, (4) career success, (5) helping others in need

Question 32

What are the cultural values of Native Americans?

Answer 32

(1) holistic worldview, (2) respect for all living things, (3) pow wows (celebrations of success in hunting or battle), (4) frybread, (5) sustainability and interconnectedness

Question 33

What are the cultural values of Pacific Islander Americans?

Answer 33

(1) family and community, (2) collectivist values, (3) cultural identity, (4) physical prowess, and (5) strength

Question 34

What are the cultural values of white Americans?

Answer 34

(1) individual freedom, (2) self-reliance, (3) equality of opportunity, (4) competition, (5) the American Dream, (6) hard work