Lecture 1 - Introduction Flashcards
Define intergroup relations
Any aspect of human interaction that involves individuals perceiving themselves as members of a social category, or being perceived by others as belonging to a social category
Define prejudice
Affective component
An attitude/evaluation toward a group or people of that group
Can be overt (explicit) or hidden (implicit)
Can be positive or negative
Define stereotypes
Cognitive component
A belief about a group of people - their attributes, characteristics, typical behaviours (a group is or should be a certain way)
Generalized application
Define discrimination
Behaviours directed toward people on the basis of their group membership
Prejudice and stereotype can feed into this
What are the three key aspects of stereotypes?
Shared, cultural belief
Accuracy: based in some truth but exaggerated
Descriptive (how people are) and prescriptive (how people should be)
What forms can discrimination take?
Interpersonal, Organizational, Institutional, Cultural
What are some examples of social identities that can be discriminated against?
race, gender, sexual orientation, social class, appearance, religion etc. (slide 40)
What are the levels at which intergroup relations operate? Which are most relevant to psychology?
Levels:
- systems and institutions
- groups and organizations
- interpersonal interactions
- individual minds
Interpersonal interactions and individual minds are most relevant to psychology
True or false: the levels of operation for intergroup relations are mutually constitutive. (I.e., they feed off each other)
True
Explain inequality within systems and institutions and give 1-2 examples
Laws that exist within a society that might perpetuate discrimination across certain groups. They are embedded within a society and influence how we act and it is the fact that they are embedded that perpetuate the inequalities.
Examples: men VS women and the Defense of Marriage Act
Define institutional discrimination
When norms, policies, and practices associated with an institution result in different outcomes on the basis of a group distinction
What is an example of Institutional Discrimination?
Cocaine example: race was never mentioned in the law but through the creation and enforcement there is differential rates of severity at which different social groups feel the enforcement of the law. Black people are more affected by the law than white and hispanics.
Define group-based discrimination
Groups are the level of analysis: how they interact with each other, the impact of social movements, dominant focus in sociology
Define organizational discrimination and give an example
Definition: when norms, policies, and practices associated with an organization result in different outcomes on the basis of a group distinction
Example: school banning dreadlocks (without mention of race) will disproportionately affect blacks more than whites
Define interpersonal discrimination and give an example
Definition: When one person treats another person differently on the basis of their group membership
Example: the video of stealing the bike - there was more reaction from people around when a black boy was stealing the bike compared to a white boy where nobody tried to stop him and sometimes helped him
What factors are considered when discussing discrimination within individual minds?
Personality types that are more likely to discriminate
Perceptions of the world that facilitate discrimination
Beliefs
Identity
Individual characteristics that make people more/less likely to engage in discrimination
What are some examples of cultural practices reinforcing inequality
Bedspreads: ballerina for a girl and astronaut for a boy
Skin lightening on magazine covers and publicities
Bone structure to determine physical attractiveness
What is cultural capital and give an example (slide 52)
Cultural capital: social assets of a person that promote social mobility
Example: a computer algorithm that is just regurgitating the biases that are/were already in the system -> White and high SES = more social mobility, more opportunities and higher social class
Define social capital and give an example
Definition: Value obtained from interpersonal relationships and social networks
Example: ECON profs starting out their career with little social capital and a lot of judgments based on where they got their PhD from. Reliance on social networks that are already established making harder to move up the ladder
Women as compared to men make less money and their research output decreases after having a child. Explain this situation based on the different levels of discrimination.
Individual: bosses may think that new mothers are less committed to their careers
Interpersonal: Job discrimination against mothers - mothers are perceived as less competent and offered lower starting salary or passed over in promotions
Cultural norms: mothers are the cultural default for childcare
Organizational/institutional: workplaces do not accommodate childcare
True or false: the relationship between prejudice, stereotype and discrimination is a one-way directional system.
False, they all feed into each other and influence one another in different ways
Explain the “prejudice <—> stereotyping” relationship
Selective exposure: the tendency to selectively seek information that reinforces one’s attitudes, while selectively avoiding information that contradicts one’s attitudes
Give an example of selective exposure
More likely to read an article about coffee being good for you while drinking your morning coffee than an article about coffee being bad for you
Explain the “prejudice/stereotyping <—> discrimination” relationship and give an example
Prejudice and stereotypes work together to justify discrimination
- initial prejudice can change your beliefs more broadly
Example: If someone sees a very unique but negatively connotated meme about immigrants coming into the US, they will most likely have an increased support for more restrictive immigration policies
