Lecture 4 - Intergroup Relations Flashcards
Describe the classic study:
Robbers Cave study
Sherif et al., 1961
Robbers Cave study
(Sherif et al., 1961)
SAMPLE - Two groups of 11-12 year old boys - Selected to be as normal as possible - Oklahoma City “In all sense normal, well-adjusted boys of the same age, educational level, from similar socioeconomic backgrounds, with no unusual features in their personal backgrounds”
PROCEDURE
- First week: camping, hiking, swimming, playing sports. Developed norms, roles, and structure. Named themselves Rattlers and Eagles, and made flags and wore these names on their shirts.
- Second week: noticed others “those guys” “they” “outsiders”. Requested a sports competition.
Camp leaders organized competition: baseball games, tug-of-war, tent-pitching, treasure hunt. Desirable prizes: pocket knives.
This very quickly escalated:
Eagles burned a flag from the Rattlers after losing a game.
Rattlers raided the cabin of the Eagles during the night.
Eagles won, Rattlers took their prizes.
Fist fights.
CONCLUSION
The study demonstrates the ease with which antagonism between groups can be created. In addition the behaviour of the boys follows patterns typically associated with stereotypes/prejudice/discrimination.
Define intergroup relations.
Intergroup relations -
Describes the relation between two or more groups and their members.
Components of negative intergroup relations -
Cognitive: Stereotypes
Affective: Prejudice
Behavioural: Discrimination
REFERENCE
Martin et al. (2019) (p. 688):
Define intergroup behaviour.
Intergroup behaviour -
Interaction between members of different groups, in terms of their group identification.
REFERENCE
Martin et al. (2019) (p. 688):
Define stereotypes.
Beliefs about the typical characteristics of members of a group or social category.
Overemphasize (negative) attributes.
Underestimate variability within a group.
More likely to be used when information about individual is ambiguous or inadequate.
Define prejudice.
Affective response towards a group or its members.
Evaluative (positive or negative)
Based on a prejudgment (without individual being known)
Often negative: Less favourable evaluation of attributes of other groups.
High prejudiced people:
- More negative to members of target group.
- Endorse more stereotypes.
Define discrimination.
Negative behaviour towards individuals based on group membership.
Refusing members of a group access to desired resources.
Blatant vs. subtle:
- Blatant: (infamous) historic examples (e.g. holocaust)
- Subtle: e.g. sexist jokes
Discrimination tends to occur when situation is ambiguous
(e.g., Hodson, Dovidio & Gaertner, 2002)
Describe the Gaertner & Dovidio (1977) study.
Gaertner & Dovidio (1977)
- White participants interacted with a single confederate or a group of confederates
- During the study, participants were in cubicles and communicated through an intercom.
- Later in the study a confederate indicated he was having a medical emergency
RESULTS
- Participants were more likely to avoid responsibility for helping when the confederate was of a different race
List 4 effects of stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination.
- Damaging for targets
(e. g., Correll et al., 2007) - Attributional uncertainty
> Creates tension that can affect self-esteem, motivation and performance (Brown et al., 2000)
> Self-esteem and motivation resilient against stigma (Crocker & Major, 1989) - Self-fulfilling prophecy
- Stereotype threat
Describe self-fulfilling prophecy.
Our expectations of other people may become a reality because these elicit the behaviours that we expected.
e.g.
(in a circle diagram)
> Expectation: she is funny > Behaviour: “tell us about that time when…” laughter > Corresponding behaviour: humorous story >
REFERENCE
[M&S, pp 93-94, 188-190]
Describe the Snyder, Tanke & Berscheid (1977) study.
Snyder, Tanke & Berscheid (1977)
Self-fulfilling prophecy.
- Male college students interviewed a “highly attractive” or “unattractive” female by telephone.
- Photos were unrelated to true looks.
- Men behaved more warmly to women they believed to be attractive.
- The “highly attractive” females were rated as more friendly, likeable, and sociable by independent judges.
REFERENCE
TP&S: p. 92 / M&S: p 421
Define stereotype threat.
Stereotypes can be a psychological burden.
In a situation where stereotypes may be confirmed (poor performance), the stereotyped individual experiences threat.
The experienced threat deteriorates performance, thereby confirming the stereotype.
Describe the Shih, Pittinksi & Ambady, 1999 study.
Shih, Pittinksi & Ambady, 1999
Stereotype threat.
PROCEDURE
Stereotype 1: Women are bad at maths
Stereotype 2: Asians are good in math
Asian women were asked to perform a Math test.
Before the test either their ethnicity or gender was cued.
RESULTS
Ethnicity cue: performance enhanced
Gender cue: performance deterioration
Define social categorisation.
Social categorization
Ingroup vs. outgroup.
> The group to which an individual belongs.
> Any other group.
Even “minimal” groups (e.g., Tajfel et al., 1971)
> People are categorized according to arbitrary, minimally important similarities
> Ingroup bias / favouritism
People are perceived as members of groups rather than distinct individuals.
> Automatic, unconscious, involuntary
> Salience (perceptual / social cues)
> Depends on context
Simplified and efficient information processing.
Makes stereotypes accessible (Judd et al., 2004)
Who proposed of social identity theory? Describe it.
Social Identity Theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1986)
Social categorisation & self-categorisation.
> Perception of self/others in group terms.
Social identity.
> Part of our identity is derived from group memberships.
We compare our group with other groups.
We strive for a positive group-image.
> We seek to differentiate our own group positively from other groups.
Describe realistic conflict theory.
Realistic conflict theory
(Levine & Campbell, 1972)
Prejudice arises from conflicts of interest over limited resources.
