Prejudice

Question 1

What are the three components of prejudice?

Answer 1

Stereotypes (cog): beliefs about groups
Prejudice (affective): feelings towards people, eg hate/dislike
Discrimination (behaviour): eg avoidance harassment

Question 2

What are two aspects of stereotypes?

Answer 2

Pervasive

Automatic

Question 3

What is stereotype threat?

Answer 3

When a negative stereotype is made salient people will inadvertently confirm the stereotype with their behaviour.

Question 4

What is the Push Study by (Duncan, 1976)?

Answer 4

White or black people lightly pushed someone. Black pushers were seen as more violent. This showed that stereotypes influenced interpretation of social actions.

Question 5

How can discrimination be presented in different ways?

Answer 5

Verbal, nonverbal, and physical. Direct or indirect.

Question 6

What was the Resume Study by Booth et al (2012)?

Answer 6

4000 fake resumes sent out, IV: racial origin of name. More callbacks for Anglo-Saxon names.

Question 7

Findings of Correll et al. 2002 black and white shooter simulation study?

Answer 7

People incorrectly shot unarmed black targets more than unarmed white targets. People set a lower threshold to shoot black people.

Question 8

What are the consequences of discrimination? (6)

Answer 8

• perceived stigma
• elevated stress, anxiety, depression
• lowered self-esteem
• diminished life satisfaction
• detriments to physical health
• mortality

Question 9

As prejudice has decreased over time, what type of prejudice remains?

Answer 9

Mostly subtle prejudice, due to social censuring and counter-normativity

Question 10

What is aversive racism?

Answer 10

People only express racism when it is socially appropriate. They don’t want to think of themselves as racist.

Question 11

What are the characteristics of aversive racism? (5)

Answer 11

• deny existence
• avoid topic
• do not recognise inequalities
• rationalise status quo
• hostility towards minorities when justifiable

Question 12

What are differences in modern measurements of racism?

Answer 12

People are more conscious of social norms and so less likely to self-report overt prejudice.

Question 13

How is subtle prejudice measured? (3)

Answer 13

• Using the Implicit Association Test IAT.
• Facial electromyography
• Behavioural measures: non-verbals, interpersonal distance (chairs)

Question 14

How does social identity theory explain prejudice?

Answer 14

Our sense of self is derived from group memberships which leads to ingroup favouritism and outgroup derogation.

Question 15

What is the minimal groups paradigm?

Answer 15

Ingroup biases emerge from even minimal stake group categorisations.

Question 16

What phenomena does group categorisation produce? (4)

Answer 16

Ethnocentrism: evaluative preference for own group
Ingroup favouritism: behaviour
Intergroup differentiation: emphasise differences
Relative homogeneity effect: see all outgroup as the same, ingroup is all different

Question 17

What is integrated threat theory? (2 types of)

Answer 17

Two types of perceived threat which predict prejudice:

• realistic threat: danger to ingroup’s wellbeing (physical safety, economic/political power, existence)
• symbolic threat: difference in values & worldviews (beliefs, morals, norms)

Question 18

What are two types of ideologies which may explain prejudice?

Answer 18

Social dominance orientation and Right Wing Authoritarianism.

Question 19

What is social dominance orientation?

Answer 19

Think / desire own group is superior.

• legitimises group hierarchy and domination
• rejects egalitarianism

Question 20

What is the fundamental belief of Social Dominance Orientation?

Answer 20

World is competitive with limited resources; us vs them

Question 21

What are the components of Right Wing Authoritarianism? (3)

Answer 21

• conventionalism: established societal conventions from authority
• submission: to authorities
• aggression: towards social deviants

Question 22

What is the fundamental belief of Right Wing Authoritarianism?

Answer 22

Outgroup values and beliefs threaten our own

Question 23

According to Integrated Threat Theory, which type of threat would SDO vs RWA ideologies be most sensitive to?

Answer 23

RWA = symbolic threat (b- perceive threat to authorities’ conventions)
SDO = realistic threat (b- perceive limited resources/room at top)

Question 24

What happened in the Robber’s Cave experiment? (Sherif & Sherif 1954)

Answer 24

11-12 yo boys split in two groups.

1. Ingroup formation: isolated groups led to ethnocentrism (no conflict)
2. Friction: groups brought together to compete led to conflict & negative attitudes
3. Integration: team-work tasks requiring cooperation improved intergroup attitudes.

Question 25

What does this study say about SI Theory being right?

Answer 25

More support for IT Theory; competition brought out inter group conflict

Question 26

What are 3 strategies that can reduce prejudice?

Answer 26

• decategorisation
• recategorisation
• intergroup contact

Question 27

What are the differences between decategorisation and recategorisation?

Answer 27

Decategorisation = reduce distinctions (breakdown outgroup homogeneity + disconfirm stereotypes)
Recategorisation = create common ingroup identity (we)

Question 28

Explain intergroup contact.

Answer 28

Hostility is fed by separation and unfamiliarity. So contact improves relations and reduces prejudices.

Question 29

Why would Intergroup Contact be a more effective strategy?

Answer 29

Changes cognitions, attitudes, and behaviours alike.

Question 30

What are the optimal conditions for Intergroup Contact? (4)

Answer 30

• equal status
• shared goals
• intergroup co-operation / interdependence
• social & institutional support

Question 31

What are some forms of indirect contact? (5)

Answer 31

• extended contact (related friends)
• vicarious contact (observing others)
• imagined contact
• parasocial contact (observe thru media)
• electronic contact

Question 32

What is an example of indirect discrimination? (3)

Answer 32

Gossip (verbal), lack of eye contact (nonverbal), and avoidance (physical).