Denis - Small Town Contact Theory Flashcards
Explain the summary of this article: (abstract)
Builds on group position theory
How does contact reproduce in a small town settler context
Contact is less “old-fashioned prejudice” and more white people’s feel of superiority
What is group position theory?
proposes the larger the size of an outgroup, the more the corresponding ingroup perceives it to threaten its own interests, resulting in the ingroup members having more negative attitudes toward the outgroup.
How do white people maintain the feeling of superiority?
Subtyping,
ideology based homophily,
and political avoidance norms
Issues with the contact hypothesis?
Focus on certain race (black ppl)
focus on minority communities growing and causing prejudice (does not explain: if bigger minority community, wont white population have more POC friends? Less prejudice).
Broadly, what does this study show?
Although contact is associated with decreased old fashioned prejudice, it does not eliminate white ppls feelings of superior position.
What is Laissez-faire racism?
Laissez-faire racism (from laissez-faire economics) is closely related to color blindness and covert racism, and is theorized to encompass an ideology that blames minorities for their poorer economic situations, viewing it as the result of cultural inferiority.
In the case of this study: stereotyping of Indigenous peoples, blaming Indigenous poverty and social problems on Indigenous peoples
What is being analyzed in this article?
How three taken for granted processes interact to preserve white ppls sense of superiority and justify racial inequality (Despite the fact they live in close contact with minorities)
Process 1: Subtyping
What is that?
Individuals who disconfirm stereotypes are seen as exceptions that prove the rule
(Seen as Individuals, and not the group they are from)
Process of subtyping:
What is ideology based homophily?
Tendency to befriend others with similar (racial) ideologies despite their race
Ex. Might befriend an Indigenous person whos seems to share same racial views. Then subtype them as “good Indian”
Process of Subtyping
What is political avoidance norm?
Public discussions of racism and colonization are taboo
Avoiding race talk (might use code words, rather then straight up saying stuff)
What was the main type of prejudice seen in this research?
More laissez faire (blaming indigenous ppl for social problems, and reject policies for better Indigenous social conditions)
Little old fashioned (less then 5%)
White people rated Canadians 5 out of 5 on warmness scale. What did they rate Indigenous people.
General Indigenous ppl: 4
White people rated different types of Indigenous lower (ex. Indigenous protestors (given 2) and Indigenous ppl who receive tax (given 3) exemptions the worst)
(Those who challenge racial structure are rated the worst)
Is most resentment directed at “status or treaty” Indigenous people?
Is is often directed towards them.
But also resentment directed at Metis and non-status Indigenous ppl looking to expand their rights
Stopped at start of pg 229
