Lecture 4 - Intergroup relations

Question 1

Stereotype content model

Answer 1

• we can hold both neg and pos stereotypes about the same group (ambivalent)
• its about ones personality and ideological beliefs

Question 2

intergroup relations

Answer 2

• people recognise they and others are members of social groups. peoples perceptions, cognitions and emotions and behaviours can be influenced by their groups & its status/power
• high/low status group & advantaged vs disavantaged group
• implies distribution of resources is unequal
• Berkowitz - RD people feel frustrated which can transform into collective violence. Runciman (1966) egositic RD and fraternalistic RD

Question 3

realistic conflict theory

Answer 3

• Sherif & Sherif (1949, 1966)
  > bonding: two groups bonded and formed distinct groups
  > competition: comp inc baseball to induce friction
  > violence occurred towards opposing groups when competing for resources
  > superordinate goals reduce conflict
• origin of prejudice?
  > intergroup comp over scarce resources
  > exclusive goals (for one group to gain it requires other to lose)
• how to resolve conflict?
  > superordinate goals
• BUT:
  > conflicts arise irrespective of type of goal
  > there is no comp
  > there is coop
  > the less frustrated group
  = this theory cannot explain all conflicts

Question 4

social identity theory

Answer 4

• Tajfel and Turner (1986) - intergroup relaitions show how ethnocentric attitudes and comp intergroup relations are easy to trigger
• consists of : social identity & personal identity
• minimal group paradigm: wanted to show how membership to groups has behavioural consequences
  > groups based on painting preference
  > asked to divide coins - showed ingroup favouritism
  > self esteem is tied to social identity
  > people have need for positive social identity so invest in their ingroup
  > belonging to a group has protective function of keeping us safe
• ingroup bias: pos more likely to be attributed to ingroup an. extreme can be ethnocentricism.

Question 5

self-categorisation theory

Answer 5

• Turner et al (1987) identities are derived through a cog process of self categorisation. final level is superordinate identity based on species we belong to.
• principles:
  > identities differ in level of inclusiveness
  > comparison and belongingness to multiple groups/identities
  > identity saliene: context + indiv readiness to adopt an identity
  > group identity salience leads to depersonalisation: if group identity is primary one in context personal identity stops being salient one so act more in line with group
  > can change based on context e.g. football
• schemas about categories are prototypes that help us differentiate between groups - accentuates similarities and differences
• when we categorise our own or others’ behaviour we assess: comparative or structural fit (similarity vs differences), and normative fit (more/less similar to prototype)

Question 6

group identification

Answer 6

• group identification = psychological connection between indiv and group
• 5 dimensions:
  1. individual self stereotypinf - how like we are to prototype
  2. in group homogeneity - is our group diverse or homogenous
  3. solidarity - are we ready to help other members of group
  4. satisfaction - are we happy with our group
  5. centrality - how central is group to our identity

Question 7

contributions

Answer 7

• stereotypes are not fixed and context is core to identity
  > social functions - explain the world helping us differentiate between us and others
  > crowd behaviour - understand how people behave in crowds & anonymity in them
• early approaches
  > anonymity - contagion - suggestability
  > de-individuation - early explanations emphasise idea that in crowds people lose their identity, do not monitor their behaviour and can act impulsively
  > change from personal to group identity
  > self categorsation
  > group members act in line with norms = conformity

Question 8

consequences

Answer 8

• self esteem tied to social identity
  > lower group status - lower self esteem and preference for outgroup
• asymmetrical ingroup bias (SDO)
  > members of low sttaus group exhibit outgroup favouritism
  > self debilitation = SFP
• if in low-status group:
  > leave group or hide membership
  > reappropriation of stigmatising labels
  > challenge the system and engage in collective action to reduce differences between groups

Question 9

privilege

Answer 9

• because you are a member of one group part of your membership is derived from privileges from this group.
• group privilege = unearned benefits afforded to powerful social groups
• these benefits challenge beliefs in meritocracy and group equality
• intersectional framework: race/ethnicity, gender, class etc.

Question 10

group dominance and privilege

Answer 10

• characteristics of the dominant group = perceived as normal and less likely to be questioned
• (half-)blindness to ones privileged position and this is more likely to happen the more privileged point someone is in
• in explaining group differences the focus is more often on subordinate groups (pratto et al 2008)
  > dominant group identity is less salient
  > members of dominant group more likely to believe dominance is natural and due to promotion