Ch 12: Improving Inter-group Relations

Question 1

Tokenism

Answer 1

favoring a minority group member over a majority group member in isolated episodes

• can lead to moral credentialing
• can be used consciously or unconsciously to disguise prejudice

Question 2

Affirmative Action

Answer 2

policies designed to promote the employment of people from disadvantaged minority groups
-can lead to moral credentialing of the company & worse self esteem of the employees who are aware they are “tokens”

Question 3

Positive feedback bias

Answer 3

giving positive feedback or less critical feedback on work believed to have come form a minority group member
-can be detrimental in that neg. feedback is often necessary

Question 4

Reverse discrimination

Answer 4

people who harbor prejudice attitudes openly displaying pro-minority behavior

Question 5

Contact Theory

Answer 5

Allports theory that bringing members of opposing groups together will improve inter-group relations and reduce prejudice/discrimination

Question 6

Optimal conditions for contact theory

Answer 6

-equality of status
-common goals
-inter-group cooperation
-support of authorities, law or custom
(not necessary for contact theory, hence optimal conditions)

Question 7

Extended contact effect

Answer 7

contact theory via virtual or vicarious contact

-people are less prejudiced if they are friends with people who have out-group friends

Question 8

Imagined contact effect

Answer 8

temporarily reduced prejudice by imagining a positive episode with an out-group member
-can also amplify pre-existing tensions and negative associations unless positive aspects are included

Question 9

Decatagorization

Answer 9

focusing on individual (personal) differences rather than group identity
-minimal categories can lead to prejudice, more inclusive and complex categories lead to less prejudice

Question 10

Common in-group identity model

Answer 10

if members of opposing groups re-categorize themselves as members of the same group attitudes improve
-important factors: salience of super-ordinate identities, common goals

Question 11

Crossed Categorization

Answer 11

categorizing oneself on more than one dimension at the same time (sub-ordinate & super-ordinate identities) can decrease perceptions of differences between categories/groups (mutual differentiation model)

Question 12

Mutual differentiation model

Answer 12

distinctiveness threat when super-ordinate identity looks as though it may replace sub-ordinate identity
-prejudice can become worse by imposing super-ordinate identity without preserving sub-ordinate identities at the same time

Question 13

Social identity complexity

Answer 13

extent to which a persons important social identities or group memberships overlap with each other
-higher complexity -> higher tolerance and positivity toward out-groups

Question 14

Multiculturalism

Answer 14

ideology that diversity in a society should be acknowledged and celebrated
-contrasted with assimilation/integrationism/colorblindness

Question 15

Assimilation/integrationism/colorblindness

Answer 15

idea that diversity in a society should be downplayed and attempts should be made to downplay differences between groups (melting pot)

Question 16

Feeling thermometer

Answer 16

rating scale to measure feelings of “warmth” and “coldness” to people of different groups

Question 17

Rebound effect of though suppression

Answer 17

finding that after suppressing an unwanted thought or stereotype it can come back stronger than before

Question 18

Ironic monitoring

Answer 18

idea that monitoring mental content for signs of unwanted thoughts can ironically activate the unwanted though
-ex. don’t think of a white elephant

Question 19

Apologies

Answer 19

• people feel insulted by apologies with reparations but no expression of guilt
• tend to have little impact on forgiveness due to poor memory for apologies and perceptions of the out-group as less able to experience complex emotions such as remorse

Question 20

Communication and negotiation

Answer 20

enables people to cooperate and overcome conflict, especially if face to face

Question 21

bargaining

Answer 21

offering something and negotiating an acceptable outcome

Question 22

mediation

Answer 22

independent third party coming to help

Question 23

arbitration

Answer 23

independent third party imposing a settlement on both groups

Question 24

Graduated and reciprocated initiative in tension reduction (GRIT)

Answer 24

conflict reduction technique that relies on both groups reciprocating a series of de-escalating actions

Question 25

Collective action

Answer 25

coordinated actions of disadvantaged group members to change inter-group relations, often taken on the wider cause of justice or needs of other groups
-ex. protest, lobbying, feminist & gay rights movements

Question 26

Integrative Social Identity model of Collective action (SIMCA)

Answer 26

collective action influenced by social identity (identification with the group), perceived injustice, and perceived efficacy of the group to change the situation