Predjudice Flashcards
What is Realistic conflict theory?
more prejudice to groups when resources are scarce so high competiton, which results in discrimation and conflict.
Competition can be with groups or individuals to survive with recourses like power money or food etc
Can lead to section of society becoming scapegoat and blamed for faults of society
Prejudice can be reduced when two or more groups are seeking to obtain superordinate goals which are mutually desirable goals
What demographic of people did Sherifs 1954 study involve?
22 young boys from Oklahoma aged 11 matched on IQ and teachings ratings of their behaviour and sporting ability.
What activities did Sherif make his participants do to cause comflict among the groups in the camp?
Competitive activities like: Tug of war, Baseball and a Swimming competitiom.
What activities did sherif make the Eagles and Ratterlers do to overcome their predjudice?
Superordinate activities like: Fixing a water tank, Fixing a broken down truck and pooling money together to watch a film.
What is Social identity theory?
A persons social identity is who they believe they are based on the the groups they belong to, Tajfel said these groups are source of pride and being in those groups gives us belonging in the world
Social stereotyping is normal to make sense of world but while doing so we exaggerate differences between groups and similarities between same groups
Prejudiced views between cultures may result in racism and in extremes can lead to genocide eg holocaust
What are the 3 stages of prejudice in social identity theory?
Categorising :
understand social environment and useful for defining appropriate behaviour based on norms of groups (us vs them)
Social identification: adopt identity of group and confirm to norms of that group and self esteem tied to it
Social comparison: once part of group we ensure it compares favourably to maintain our self esteem, exaggerate good our group and underestimate good of our group
What is some supporting evidence of Social identity theory?
Jane Elliot brown eyes blue eyes study, boys told they were better than other eye colour and were prejudiced
Tajfels studies showed the boys ignored opportunities to have maximum profit for both groups to give their own group more money than the out group.
Also reductionist :)
What is some criticism against Social identity theory?
Realistic conflict suggest groups alone isn’t enough to create prejudice but conflict between groups needed so SIT not complete explanation, too simple
Ignores individual differences like having an authoritarian personality so not complete explanation less valid
How do situational factors affect prejudice?
Close family, friends and groups may support harmful beliefs
people conform to norms of social groups they are in and learned these through observation of their role models behaviour
What is a Criticism of Situational factors affecting prejudice?
It is deterministic, says prejudice is caused by groups and we have no control. Could be used as excuse for prejudice and to not take responsibility for it.
What is some supporting evidence of Situational factors affecting prejudice?
Akrami’s study found less sexism in groups who were told discrimination no longer issue for women compared to groups who weren’t.
How does Adorno argue personality affects prejudice?
Created questionnaire called F-scale to measure personality
He argues people with strict and harsh parents for example were more likely to have authoritarian personality and discriminate against the ‘weak’ and more likely to categorise as “us v them”
Social dominance orientation says people with this More likely to see the world as a hesitancy and want their own group to be on top and be prejudiced to those below them
What are some characteristics of an authoritarian personality?
Hostile to inferior people to them,
obedient to authority,traditional,
focus on power and strength, favour own ethnic group over others.
What is some supporting evidence of Adornos personality explanation?
Cohrs, found right-wing authoritarianism linked to prejudice and caused them to be less open. Shows a persons personality is important to how much they discriminate.
What are some criticisms of Adornos Personality explanation?
It ignores other factors such as having prejudiced role models and deterministic as it suggests prejudice is caused by personality and we have little control.
