Prejudice Flashcards
What is Social Identity Theory?
SIT was developed by Tajfel & Turner (1979). People identify with their in-group and have negative views towards outgroups.
SIT proposes that group formation goes through three stages: Social Categorisation, Social Identification and Social Comparison.
What is Social Categorisation?
This is seeing yourself as part of a group. As well as a personal identity (who you see yourself as) everyone has a social identity (the groups they see themselves as being a part of). Social identity may involve belonging to groups based on your gender, social class, religion, school or friends.
What is Social Identification?
Once you have a social identity, you automatically perceive everyone else you meet as either part of your ingroup (the one who have the same social identity as you) or the outgroup.
What is Social Comparison?
This is viewing your social identity as superior to others, it comes from regarding the products of your ingroup as better than the products of an outgroup. This leads to prejudice and, if you have the power to influence the outgroup, it will lead to discrimination too.
What research is there into Social Identity Theory?
Tajfel’s ‘Minimal Groups’ study. Concluded that although there was no competition between the groups, the participants chose competition and displayed prejudice towards their in-group and against the outgroup.
How can Social Identity Theory be applied to the real world?
If you support a football team, your self-esteem is linked to the success of the team. If the team wins, you feel good. Even if it loses, you can feel good by believing fans of other teams are inferior to you. Football fans show Social Identification by wearing their team colours, singing team chants, or talking incessantly about the team.
How is Social Identity Theory credible?
Social Identity Theory is credible because it is supported by Tajfel et al.’s 1970 study into minimal groups. It showed how the two boy groups will discriminate against each other, as they see the other group as an outgroup, and show favouritism to their ingroup. This shows that self-esteem plays a big role in social identity and that some people need to put down outgroups in order to feel good about themselves and their ingroup.
What are some objections to Social Identity Theory?
The “Minimal Groups” study has been criticized as it is said that young boys are naturally competitive, and the matrices looked like a competition of some sort. The boys might have assumed that Tajfel wanted them to “win” at this game. This means that the boys showed demand characteristics as they acted in the way they think that the researcher wants.
What are some differences for Social Identity Theory?
Social Identity Theory contrasts with Realistic Conflict Theory. Realistic Conflict Theory claims that prejudice is produced by competition and happens when there is a benefit at stake. Sherif’s “Robbers Cave” study showed outgroup discrimination during a tournament between the groups, whereas “Minimal Groups” showed discrimination over books of matrices. This shows that the “Robbers Cave” study has more ecological validity than the “Minimal Groups” study.
What are some applications to Social Identity Theory?
People’s personal identity can be increased by counselling as it can help people realise their self-worth and increase their self-esteem. This means that prejudice can be reduced because people will have their own identity instead of a social one that they follow.
What is Realistic Conflict Theory?
It is developed by Sherif (1966). Realistic conflict theory states that whenever there are two or more groups that are seeking the same limited resources, this will lead to conflict, negative stereotypes and beliefs, and discrimination between the groups. The conflict can lead to increasing hostility toward the groups and can cause an ongoing feud to develop.
What research is there for Realistic Conflict Theory?
Sherif carried out the “Robbers Cave” study that showed Realistic Conflict in action.
In the 1970s, the Michigan National Election Studies survey gathered data on attitudes towards a government plan to merge schools and bus white children to schools alongside black children. In these surveys, white respondents opposed the idea of their children being schooled alongside African Americans. RCT would say this is because the white families felt that the privilege they enjoyed would be threatened if they had to share it with the children of black families.
How can Realistic Conflict Theory be applied to the real world?
If conflict comes from a competition over scarce resources, it follows that conflict decreases when cooperation results in more shared resources. To reduce prejudice, superordinate goals can be set up. This is where the resources can only be won if the groups cooperate rather than compete.
How is Realistic Conflict Theory credible?
Realistic Conflict Theory is credible because it is supported by the “Robbers Cave” study, which showed groups of boys getting into conflict, such as name calling, when they were put into competition. This shows that prejudice occurs when there is a competition.
What are some objections to Realistic Conflict Theory?
The “Robbers Cave” study was carried out on American schoolboys, not on adults. Testosterone and upbringing might make schoolboys become competitive and form tribes. This shows that they can’t be generalised to adult behaviour.
