(BRB) social psychology 2 - prejudice (T2)

Question 1

what is the study that supports realistic conflict theory

Answer 1

robbers cave experiment

Question 2

what is the study which supports social identity theory

Answer 2

minimal groups paradigm experiment

Question 3

define prejudice

Answer 3

• to prejudge somebody before knowing anything about them as an individual
• it is an extreme attitude towards someone or a group which is usually negative

Question 4

what are the 3 negative components to prejudice

Answer 4

• cognitive -> stereotyping
• affective-> prejudice
• behavioural -> discrimination

Question 5

define what stereotyping is

Answer 5

• overgeneralised beliefs about someone or something, usually based on limited information

Question 6

define what prejudice is

Answer 6

• an unfavourable extreme attitude towards someone or something, common forms are racism and sexism

Question 7

define what discrimination is

Answer 7

• unfair treatment of categories of people

Question 8

what is intergroup conflict

Answer 8

• real conflict experienced between different groups

Question 9

what are superordinate goals

Answer 9

• goals where all members of each group needs to cooperate in order to achieve the intended outcome

Question 10

what is the main idea of realistic conflict theory

Answer 10

• that prejudice is a result of conflict between groups
• the conflict arises due to competition between the groups for a values resource

Question 11

what does realistic conflict theory suggest about solving the conflict

Answer 11

• when groups are required to work towards superordinate goals then there is a reduction in hostility and greater harmony

Question 12

what evidence is there to support realistic conflict theory

Answer 12

• the theory has credibility because it is supported by evidence (sherif et als study) which shows how competition between the boys increased hostility
• the theory has cross cultural relevance as Ember & Ember (1992) observed in tribal societies hostility increases when competition is introduced

Question 13

what is the evidence against realistic conflict theory

Answer 13

• sheriffs own writing suggests that the boys may have been becoming hostile towards each other before any competition was introduced
• theory is limited because it ignores individual differences

Question 14

what is the supporting evidence for the methodology for realistic conflict theory

Answer 14

• the robbers cave study
• a field study so high ecological validity
• tasks were high in mundane realism

Question 15

what are the applications of realistic conflict theory

Answer 15

• has practical real world applications
• prejudice and hostility can be reduced if they have superordinate goals e.g aronsal et al

Question 16

what is the aim of the sherif et al study

Answer 16

• to investigate intergroup relations over a period of time when various experimentally induced situations were introduced

Question 17

what are the 4 stages of realistic conflict theory

Answer 17

• perceived limited resource
• competition occurs
• hostility occurs
• superordinate goals used to reduce hostility

Question 18

what is the procedure and results from stage 1 of sherif et als study

Answer 18

procedure- first 5-6 days
- 2 groups kept separate and given teambuilding exercise to help bond
- each group made a group name
- at the end they were made aware of the other group
- experimenters used sociometric measures and experimental judgement

results- the boys bonded with their groups
- came up with group names and had a leader
- each group expressed dislike for other group and created us vs them relationship

Question 19

what is the procedure and results from stage 2 of sherif et als study

Answer 19

procedure- next 4-6 days
- conflict was encouraged by setting up situations where they had to compete for desired prizes
- wanted to see if negative attitudes would develop
- recorded adjective’s and phrases if they were derogatory

results- competition led to immediate hostility
- eagles refused to eat with the rattlers
- groups shouted insults at each other
- raided eachothers huts + burned flags

Question 20

what is the procedure and results from stage 3 of sherif et als study

Answer 20

procedure- final 6-7 days
- designed to reduce tension + conflict
- introduced superordinate goals like removing a blockage to allow a water truck to enter
- made them watch films together

results- getting the groups together without competition didnt reduce hostility
- joint problem solving tasks did reduce hostility
- friendship increased between 2 groups

Question 21

what are the conclusions from sherif et als study

Answer 21

• prejudice and discrimination arise without competition
• competition increases prejudice and competition
• when groups cooperate on tasks that are meaningful to both groups hostility decreases

Question 22

what is the generalisability like in sherif et als study (GRAVE)

Answer 22

• may not be generalisable as the competition and way they were divided was artificial
• sample only included 11-12 yr old white, lower middle class, protestant boys who were matched on IQ + sporting ability so not generalisable to everyone

Question 23

what is the reliability like in sherif et als study (GRAVE)

Answer 23

• many uncontrolled extraneous variables as its a real world surrounding

Question 24

what applications are there in sherif et als study (GRAVE)

Answer 24

• not applicable to real life situations such as inner city gangs
• however useful in society for reducing prejudice

Question 24

what is the validity like in sherif et als study (GRAVE)

Answer 24

- internal validity is increased as many participant variables were controlled and staff did not direct the behaviour of the boys - internal increases as many data collection methods were used - ecological validity is high as it was conducted in a real world environment - ecological low as the way the boys were divided was artificial and had to repeat the study 3 times to get the desired result

Question 24

what are the ethics like in sherif et als study (GRAVE)

Answer 24

- didnt get fully informed consent as boys were unaware of the aim of the study - slight use of deception - the boys parents were infomred so consent was given - no right to withdraw

Question 25

what is the 2nd theory that explains how prejudice is developed

Answer 25

social identity theory (tajfel & turner)

Question 25

what is personal and social identity

Answer 25

personal- out own uniquie qualities, personality and self esteem social- formed through membership of social groups

Question 25

what is the main idea of social identity theory

Answer 25

- looks at souley group membership to explain prejudice - tajfel and turner refer to in group and out groups

Question 26

what are the 3 main processes involved with social identity theory

Answer 26

- social categorisation - social identification - social comparison

Question 27

what is social categorisation in social identity theory

Answer 27

- categorising ourselves into social groups involving gender and race etc - some groups are more relevant to some than others - we reduce perceived variability within the group

Question 28

what is social categorisation in social identity theory

Answer 28

- people take on the norms and values of the groups that they have categorised themselves in

Question 29

what is social comparison in social identity theory

Answer 29

- self esteem comes bound up with group membership - if self esteem is to be maintained, out group needs to compare well against other groups - this is done by in group favouritism and negative out group bias

Question 30

what does heterogeneous mean in social identity theory

Answer 30

- all members of groups are different (unique)

Question 31

what does homogenous mean in social identity theory

Answer 31

- all members of a group are similar/ equal

Question 32

when tajfel and other conducted a series of minimal experiments to test if just group membership could create prejudice what were the group members

Answer 32

- randomly and arbitrarily created - there is no contact between group members - membership of groups is anonymised - the tokens used as a form of currency to allocate rewards - punishments have no intrinsic value

Question 33

what is the evidence from minimal group theory to support social identity theory

Answer 33

- tajfel et al conducted a study on 64 Bristol school boys whom were assigned to meaningless groups - the boys were asked to allocate points (money) to the boys in their own group or other groups, using matrix - tajfel found that the boys tended to allocate more points to those in their own group showing in group favouritism

Question 34

when evaluating social identity theory what is the evidence to support it

Answer 34

- theory is supported by tajfels study which increases credability - also supported by jane Elliot which showed that social categorisation, where students were divided into blue eyed and brown eyed groups, could lead to prejudice and discrimination

Question 35

when evaluating social identity theory what is the evidence against it

Answer 35

- its possible that tajfels results could be better explained by competition between the boys rather than favouritism meaning RCT is better explanation - theory may not apply cross culturally so less generalisable - theory does not explain individual differences

Question 36

when evaluating social identity theory what are the positive points about methodology

Answer 36

- the study was well controlled with an IV and a DV which means cause and effect can be inferred

Question 37

when evaluating social identity theory what are the negative points about methodology

Answer 37

- conducted in lab experiments, meaning demand characteristics could be present - using a matrix to allocate the money was artificial meaning they lack mundane realism

Question 38

when evaluating social identity theory what are the positive points about applications

Answer 38

- can explain issues as diverse as conflict between football teams and religious and racial groups - it also has practical applications as it can be used to reduce prejudice in society

Question 39

how does social identity theory suggest prejudice can be reduced

Answer 39

- encouraging people to see themselves as a larger social identity can combat out group discrimination - e.g housewives in segregated housing areas were more likely to have a negative view of their opposing race compared to those in non segregated housing areas who views them as friends as they spoke at laundry plants

Question 40

what is an alternative theory to social identity theory

Answer 40

- realistic conflict theory

Question 41

what is ethnocentrism

Answer 41

- belief that ones own ethnic group is superior to anothers

Question 42

what is conservatism

Answer 42

- a belief in tradition and social order with a dislike for change

Question 43

what is anti-democratic

Answer 43

- views that oppose the fair election of government and majority rule