ch.11 Flashcards
social stigma
Privileged status is defined by a group’s power and influence.
Membership in the dominant group is a status seen as natural and normal, and usually taken for granted.
Stigmatized groups do not share this status and differ from privileged groups in terms of appearance or behavior.
what defines a stigmatized group
Depends on the historical and cultural context.
Dominant group members determine which individuals are stigmatized.
Stigmatized individuals have a characteristic that is devalued by the dominant group and sets them apart.
Some stigmatized experiences can be short-lived or benign.
course
Benign stigmas are often temporary.
Some stigmas are stable/irreversible.
Other stigmas are unstable and can change over time.
concealability
Some stigmas can be hidden or controlled by stigmatized person.
Concealing a stigma does not reduce the associated guilt and shame.
People with stigmas that cannot be concealed must directly cope with the prejudice and discrimination associated with their group membership.
aesthetic qualities
Many stereotypes are triggered by physical appearance cues.
Less physically attractive people more likely to be stigmatized.
Facial symmetry/disfigurement
Weight
Old age
origin
How did the stigma come to be?
Is the onset under the control of the stigmatized individual?
If people believe a stigma is uncontrollable, they feel more pity and less anger toward the individual.
peril
Members of some stigmatized groups are perceived to be dangerous, even if this assumption is incorrect.
Groups assumed to be more dangerous are more stigmatized than groups perceived as less dangerous.
stigma by association
Members of the dominant group can receive a courtesy stigma when they associate with members of a stigmatized group.
Social consequences can result from associating with stigmatized individuals.
neuberg et al.
Male participants watched social interaction between 2 other males.
Participants were told males were either 2 friends or 2 strangers.
One of the males (Person A) revealed information to other (Person B) suggesting he was either gay or heterosexual.
Participants were less comfortable with Person B when he was friends with a gay Person A.
Person B had stigma by association with Person A.
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Tokenism and
Personal/Group Discrimination Discrepancy are posted w/ the notes on Blackboard
perceiving discrimination
Perceptions of personal discrimination may be impacted by identification with group.
High identifiers more likely to report personal discrimination than low identifiers.
Individuals that strongly identify with their group may be more likely to notice subtle forms of prejudice.
stereotype threat
Defined as the proposition that stigmatized group members are aware that they are stereotyped and that, especially in achievement settings, they fear confirming these stereotypes.
general features of stereotype threat
Stems from situational pressures that bring the stereotype to mind, not merely from internalization of the negative stereotype.
It is a general process that can affect any group that has a negative stereotype.
The nature of the threat varies by the specific context of the negative stereotype.
Stereotype threat operates by changing the way information is processed; its presence reduces working memory capacity.
reducing stereotype threat
Considering the way that achievement tests are described.
Keep instructions as neutral as possible.
Most likely to occur when tasks are difficult or frustrating.
Providing role models that disconfirm stereotype.
Change the way feedback is given.
vulnerability to stress
Chronic experience of prejudice or major individual incidences of prejudice can produce chronic stress associated with disease.
Stigmatized groups members also experience nonnormative life events that produce high levels of stress.
Stressful life events may be more likely for some stigmatized groups due to situational factors related to group membership.
Cycle of stress – experiencing a high level of stress makes individuals more vulnerable to the effects of subsequent stressors.
