prejudice RCT & social identity

Question 1

What are the 3 neg components to prejudice?

Answer 1

-Cognitive stereotyping
-Affective (stereotyping leads to) prejudice eg hostility
-Behavioural discrimination eg assault

Question 2

Define stereotype

Answer 2

Overgeneralised belief about someone or something usually based on limited info

Question 3

Define prejudice

Answer 3

An unfavourable extreme attitude towards someone or something eg sexism and racism

Question 4

Define discrimination

Answer 4

Unfair treatment of categories of people

Question 5

Describe realistic conflict theory?

Answer 5

Developed by Sherif. Prejudice is a result of conflict between two groups. The conflict arises due to competition (for perceived limited resources like food, jobs) members become prejudice and hostile which leads to increased animosity towards the other group. Intergroup hostility can be reduced by working towards superordinate goals as they have to cooperate in order to get anything done

Question 6

How does reductionism relate to RCT

Answer 6

Sherif was prof in psych and sociology and resisted attempts to explain prejudice at a dispositional level. Continually argued with a multidisciplinary approach that psychologists should strive for both lab and field because social issues don’t occur just in a lab

Question 7

PEEC Methodology in RCT

Answer 7

One strength of the theory is that the main supporting evidence for RCT was the Robbers cave study. For example, this was a field study set in Oklahoma with 22 boys going on a summer camp which a typical 11 year old American could be doing, which shows it is no different to ordinary life and not artificial. For example, tasks they were asked to do such as tug of war is realistic competition to expect at a camp. Therefore, making mundane realism also high due to the setting making the methodology of the study extremely strong. However, this methodology means that the theory cannot be generalised to the wider population due to the sample being all 22 white American boys. Which means it cannot be applied to anywhere non-American or any females.

Question 8

PEEC evidence in RCT

Answer 8

One strength of RCT is that due to there being evidence there to support it, the theory has credibility. For example, Sherif’s et all Robbers Cave Study showed how competition between boys increased hostility. Additionally when they had to work towards shared goals( superordinate goals) eg fixing a water blockage, they then became more friendlier to each other. Furthermore, this theory also has cross cultural evidence as Ember & Ember observed in Tribal societies inter-group hostility increases hen they are competing for limited resources. This means, that there is an overwhelming amount of evidence to support RCT and give it credibility. However, Sherif’s own writing suggests the boys become hostile before any competition which ay indicate SIT is a better explanation for prejudice.

Question 9

Applications PEEC IN RCT

Answer 9

One strength of RCT is that it is practical and has real world applications. This means that it suggests prejudice and hostility can be reduced if they have superordinate goals. For example, Aronson et al used a jigsaw technique to get students to work together which reduces levels of competition and hostility between classmates. It also explains hostility towards immigrants if people perceive resources like jobs are limited they view the immigrants as competitors and feel prejudiced against them.

Question 10

What was the aim of Sherif’s study?

Answer 10

To investigate inter-group relations, focusing on group formation, the effect of competition and how to resolve group conflicts

Question 11

IV of Sherif’s study?

Answer 11

Stage of experiment in group formation, friction phase, and i8ntegration phase. This is a repeated measures design.

Question 12

DV of Sherif’s study?

Answer 12

Intergroup behaviour was measure by observing the boys behaviour and friendship patterns and tape recording their convos, recording phrases they used and the boys filled out questionnaires on their attitudes to their own group and other group

Question 13

What is the sample in Sherif’s study?

Answer 13

The study was a field experiment. The sample as 22 ,11 year old boys. All were whit, American, lower-middle-class and protestant. Selected by opportunity sampling and split into evenly matched group of boys. Rattlers and Eagles.

Question 14

What is the procedure in Sherif’s study? (in group formation)

Answer 14

Arrived on separate buses and settled into into their cabins in Oklahoma. Unaware of the other group. Each group has counsellors who were really ppt observers & sociometric measures to investigate status positions and roles within the group. In group formation lasted a week where each group had to bond via tasks like a treasure hunt and were given group names to strengthen group identity and develop group norms. At the end of this stage they were made aware of the other group

Question 15

What was the procedure in Sherif’s study? (friction phase)

Answer 15

As soon as awareness of other groups hostility increased. Experimenters encouraged conflict eg competing for desirable prizes like penknives, tug or war, baseball games.

Question 16

Describe the integration phase?

Answer 16

Reduce tension between groups by working towards a superordinate goals. Such as watching films together and joint problem solving activities such as removing a blockage

Question 17

Results of RCT

Answer 17

Stage 1) Boys bonded with their groups and had leaders and expressed dislike of the other group and had a us vs them attitude

Stage 2) Competition led to immediate hostility eg Eagles refused to eat with Rattlers, shouted insults ,raided huts and burned flags. A strong sense of in-group favouritism and neg out-group bias when asked to self-report who were their friends 93% chose exclusively their own group.

Stage 3)Getting them together like in a dining hall didn’t reduce hostility. Joint problem solving tasks helped eg Rattlers spent a $5 on drinks for both.

Question 18

Conclusions of Sherif’s study

Answer 18

Strong in group identities formed initially. Some hostility observed as soon as awareness suggest prejudice with no competition. Competition = intense hostility. Contact itself wasn’t enough to reduce hostility

Question 19

Generalisability PEE Sherif

Answer 19

One weakness of Sherif study is that it lacks generalisability due to the sample. For example, there was only 22 boys who were all from the same socio-economic status, all protestant ,white, American and 11. This means we cannot generalise findings to other populations or adults which reduces its usefulness.

Question 20

Reliability PEEC Sherif

Answer 20

a strength of the study is that it has high reliability. for example, triangulation was used to collect data; observations, tape recordings and sociometric analysis. this offers a variety of datasets to explain differing aspects of the phenomenon of interest. however, Tyerman and Spencer replicated the study and did not find the same results. therefore, this suggests that the procedure and findings are not reliable as it did not produce consistent results

Question 21

Applications PEEC Sherif

Answer 21

a strength of the study is that it has applications to reduce prejudice by working together towards superordinate goals. For example, the jigsaw teaching technique. this is where students are divided into groups of 4-6 and individuals of each group work together, and then return as an instructor. this allows groups to co operate and reduce friction which was tested by Aronson and worked successfully to reduce bullying

Question 22

Validity PEEC Sherif

Answer 22

One strength of the study is that ecological validity is high due to the data collection methods. For example, the counsellors being participant observers, recordings and the boys not knowing they were being observed reducing any demand characteristics. This suggests the findings of the study are accurate and therefore increasing the overall validity of the study. Furthermore, the ecological validity is high due to it being set in a real summer camp in Oklahoma which is a natural setting for young boys. However, as there was no control group instead pre & post experiment attitudes are compared. Which means cause and effect relationships cannot be clearly demonstrated.

Question 23

Ethics PEEC Sherif

Answer 23

A weakness of the study is the ethical issues. For example, the ppts were deceived as even though parents had been told, the boys thought it was a real summer camp. Additionally, arguments broke out and they called each other names which could have caused psychological harm which counsellors didn’t stop and the parents could not visit the boys. Which decreases the ethics of the study massively as the boys themselves did not give any consent and it can be seen as stressful to deliberately cause hostility. however, there was a right to withdraw. For example 2 of the participants leaving showing they could leave anytime.

Question 24

3 processes SIT suggests involves in becoming prejudiced?

Answer 24

-Social categorisation-Automatically putting yourself into a group in group = we tend to see ourselves similar to and out group= being similar to each other
-Social identification-Taking on the norms and values of the group that they have categorised themselves in
-Social comparison- Making your group appear better than the out group to boost your self esteem. Which is done via in group favouritism (see individual’s in their group as unique) and negative out group bias (seeing the other group all the same in an unfavourable light)

Question 25

Main differences between RCT and SIT?

Answer 25

RCT suggests competition for resources between 2 groups is important for conflict to arise whereas SIT argues merely being categorised into a group is enough for there to be prejudice and discrimination.

Question 26

Aim of SIT

Answer 26

To show that groups form social identities and that they can produce prejudice (lab experiment using matrices to allocate rewards)

Question 27

Procedure of minimal group theory (Tajfel and Turner) ?

Answer 27

Study on 64 Bristol group boys to allocate points to either their own group or another group even though they weren’t aware of the members

Question 28

Results of minimal group theory?

Answer 28

Minimal group theory shows dividing people is enough to cause prejudice. He found boys tended to favour in groups against out groups. Merely being in a group was enough to cause prejudice.

Question 29

GRAVE on minimal group theory:

Answer 29

64 boys from Bristol so can’t be applied to other populations
Can be repeated due to standardised procedures
Demonstrates how segregation leads to discrimination eg Deutsch and Collins (studied desegregated housing project where black and whites shared same housing and compared to a segregated housing block and found desegregated mixed regularly ,held each other in higher regard, and more in favour in inter racial housing.
Well controlled lab exp high internal validity but lacks ecological validity but has received cross-cultural confirmation

Question 30

Evidence PEEC SIT

Answer 30

One strength of Tajfels SIT theory is that it’s supported by his own minimal group studies and more evidence which increases his credibility. For example, Jane Elliot also showed how social categorisation in kids divided by blue eyes and brown eyes can lead to prejudice and discrimination. This provides support for Tajfel’s proposed processes that cause prejudice therefore supporting his theory. However, the theory may not apply cross-culterally as shown by Weatherell who found NZ Polynesians were more likely to favour out groups than show bias to their own. Which shows cultures that emphasis’ collectivism and cooperation are less likely to show prejudice so the theory may not generalise to other cultures.

Question 31

Methodology PEEC SIT

Answer 31

One weakness is that Tajfel’s experiments were lab experiments. For example his minimal group theory taks were allocating money to an in group and an out group using a matrix. This means that demand characteristics may have been present and the tasks were fairly artificial which may mean results don’t apply to everyday life. However, the study was well-controlled with an IV (matrices) and DV (money allocated) which means cause and effect relationship can be est and inferred.

Question 32

Applications/Alternative theory PEEC

Answer 32

The theory is useful as it can issues of conflict between different groups eg football teams. Can be used to reduce prejudice by stopping people being socially categorised (D&C). However, can be argued results from Tajfel’s study may have been motivated by competition

Question 33

How can the Authoritarian personality be applied to prejudice?

Answer 33

People with this personality type are often hostile to minority groups and those who don’t conform to authority - causing prejudice towards them.

Question 34

How does the childhood of those with an Authoritarian personality correlate with prejudice?

Answer 34

Individuals with a strict upbringing were unable to express their hostility towards their parents for fear of punishment and so it was differed to minority groups (a safer target)

Question 35

PEEC Evidence personality

Answer 35

a strength of this theory is the supporting evidence from Adorno. He found that those who scored highly on the F-scale shared traits of hostility towards minorities. therefore, this supports the idea of an authoritarian personality leading to prejudice.
however Adorno has low validity. this is because The information on ppts’ childhood was drawn from their own recollections (retrospective data) and was self-report. therefore, there are elements of subjectivity and social desirability which reduce authenticity.

Question 36

PEE Application Personality

Answer 36

a strength of this theory is that it has applications. for example, it states that prejudice occurs due to having trait of hostility towards minorities due to childhood. therefore, it is useful at identifying an explanation for prejudice so can help to find a solution targeting changing personality or authoritarian people’s attitudes towards minorities

Question 37

PEEC generalisability Personality

Answer 37

a weakness of the theory is that the attitudes could be described as outdated or old fashioned. for example, Adorno’s study took place in the 1950s and societal values have changed since then such as racism towards black people is not so apparent now. therefore, it won’t be as applicable to modern day prejudice and so less credible of an explanation for prejudice now

Question 38

Give 2 pieces of evidence to support differing social norms as a reason for prejudice.

Answer 38

Katz and Brady conducted a questionnaire on American students investigating national stereotypes they had about other cultures. Gave students list off different ethnic groups and adjectives they associated them with and many put african americans as lazy and jews and shrewd. Karlins et al replicated this and found while some national stereotypes changed other persisted- shows culture does influence beliefs and as cultures change so do prejudices they hold

Question 39

Give a piece of evidence to support multiculturalism as a reason for prejudice.

Answer 39

Guimond = found that cultures involving MC were pro-diversity and cultures involving AS were more prejudice with the lowest level of prejudice found in Canada (MC) and highest level of prejudice found in Germany (AS). therefore demonstrates that multicultural cultures are more prejudiced

Question 40

Give a piece of evidence to support collectivism as a reason for prejudice.

Answer 40

Kleugal = Found that collectivism is associated with greater tolerance and lower racism. suggests that collectivist cultures are less likely to show prejudice

Question 41

Give a piece of evidence to reject collectivism as a reason for prejudice.

Answer 41

Al-Zahrani and Kaplowitz = found that Saudi people (a collectivist culture) reported more in-group favouritism and negative out-group bias than American people (an individualistic culture). therefore suggests that collectivism increases prejudice instead of lowers it

Question 42

Evaluate a strength of this explanation of prejudice

Answer 42

1) Holistic as it looks at wider issues unlike narrow personality theories, therefore findings are more credible
2) The recognition of some cultures being more prejudice than others may cause them to change their norms and values to a more positive view to avoid hate

Question 43

Evaluate a weakness of this explanation of prejudice.

Answer 43

unethical
Suggesting some cultures are more prejudice than others can have negative repercussions which can lead to more prejudice