Lecture 11

Question 1

Why is a minority more likely to be categorized?

Answer 1

• Because it is a small group that is different. So these differences become categorized. They stand out more.
• Minorities are also more likely to act according to the category to show individuality

Question 2

What is self-stereotyping

Answer 2

• you apply a stereotype to yourself and act like a “typical” group member.

Question 2

What is the difference between individual and social identity

Answer 2

• individual identity is what makes you unique and social identity is the groups you belong to.

Question 3

What is the minimal group paradigm? What two things can you call it?

Answer 3

• even when there is a minimal group (anonymous without personal contact) people give more to in-group members than our group members
• This is called in-group bias or in-group favoritism

Question 4

What is the linguistic intergroup bias and concrete vs abstract language in positive/negative behavior?

Answer 4

• You use more concrete language for your in-group and more abstract language for out-group members for negative behavior
• You use more abstract language for your in-group and concrete language for your outgroup if the behavior is positive
• Conctrete language makes it seem more incidental and abstract language makes it seem more permanent.

Question 5

When are in-group members more punishing and when are they less punishing towards in-group deviants?

Answer 5

• If there is hard evidence they are in-group members are more angry and punishing than outgroup members.
• But if there is not a lot of evidence then outgroup members are more angry and punishing compared to in-group members.

Question 6

Why/how do people seek a positive social identity: Self-Esteem, Distinctiveness, Belonging, Symbolic immortality and uncertainty reduction?

Answer 6

• Self-esteem: BIRGing and CORFing (basking in reflected glory, Cutting off Reflected failure) identifying with successful others to make you feel more successful
• Distinctiveness: to emphasize what makes you unique
• Belonging: if you are a peripheral member of a group you are more critical of outgroup members to emphasize group membership.
• Symbolic immortality: you want to make sure your ideas and opinions live on after you. After reminder of own mortality
• uncertainty reduction: terror management theory says you join a group for more certainty about who you are and where you belong.