Prejudice and Discrimination

Question 1

What do stereotypes function to do?

Answer 1

They function to organise and facilitate the processing of information about members of different social and/or ethnic groups.

Question 2

How do we form impressions according to Asch’s (1946) configural model?

Answer 2

We use a gestalt approach where we look at the whole picture with each piece of information influencing the others..

Question 3

According to Asch’s configural model, cold and warm traits are termed….

Answer 3

central traits because of their influence on the peripheral traits

Question 4

Asch’s (1946) model of unified impression formation is an algebraic model. What does this mean?

Answer 4

Information received is averaged.

Question 5

Asch’s (1946) model of unified impression formation is a configural model. What does this mean?

Answer 5

Certain elements dominate and can influence interpretation of others.

Question 6

According to Asch’s (1946) model, why are stereotypes formed?

Answer 6

Because we have a drive for unified and organised impressions which shapes our mental processing

Question 7

What are the functions of stereotyping?

Answer 7

1. Saves cognitive energy as it simplifies the social world.
2. It can be used to make predictions about the dispositions of others.
3. It can improve our own self-esteem through comparison.

Question 8

It was concluded from the Princeton Trilogy that _____

Answer 8

stereotypes are the cultural products. As society changed so did the general consensus.

Question 9

Are stereotypes deliberate or automatic?

Answer 9

Studies by Devine (1989) suggests that both people high and low in prejudice can be influenced by negative stereotypes (study 2) but people with low prejudice are motivated more to inhibit these automatic thoughts and replace them with egalitarian thoughts.

Question 10

Define Gaertner and Dovidio’s (1986) aversive racism.

Answer 10

conflict between prejudiced attitudes and modern egalitarian values. When egalitarian views are weak, racism is expressed.

Question 11

Gaertner and Dovidio (1977) found that the bystander effect was greatly magnified if the victim was…..

Answer 11

black- people were less likely to help the black victim if other potential helpers were present

Question 12

What is the difference between prejudice and discrimination.

Answer 12

Prejudice is an unfavourable attitude towards a social group whereas discrimination is singling out members from a particular social group for prejudice based on their group membership.

Question 13

What are some discriminative behaviours?

Answer 13

Reluctance to help, tokenism and reverse discrimination

Question 14

Name some social theories of prejudice and discrimination.

Answer 14

Mere exposure effect- Zajonc (1968)

Social learning- Bandura (1977,1997)

Social identity & Self-Categorisation

Question 15

Adorno’s 1950 Authoritarian personality hypothesis states that individuals with this type of personality tend to displace their anger and resentment _______

Answer 15

onto weaker groups.

Question 16

According to Fiske’s stereotype content model, what type of behaviour does pride, pity, disgust and envy lead to?

Answer 16

pity- active behaviour
pride- facilitative behaviour
disgust- passive behaviour
envy- harmful behaviour

Question 17

Having an authoritarian personality doesn’t always lead to prejudice and discrimination because ______

Answer 17

there are few differences between racist and non-racist groups (Pettigrew, 1958)

Question 18

What is a theory of prejudice and discrimination that isn’t restricted to people who are authoritarian?

Answer 18

Dogmatism and close-mindedness. More general syndrome that is characterised by a resistance to belief change.

Question 19

Personality theories don’t account for….

Answer 19

sudden attitude change or situational factors

Question 20

Which theory states that similar beliefs leads to liking and social harmony but dissimilar beliefs leads to dislike and prejudice?

Answer 20

Belief congruence theory- Rokeach (1960)

Question 21

Stereotypes prevent promotion due to competence perceptions. What effect is this?

Answer 21

glass-ceiling effect