prominent theories Flashcards
when was scientific racism dominant?
18th-19th centuries, pre 1920s
what is the scientific racism view of prejudice?
prejudice is justified by data on evolutionary differences between white and non-white people
who is Samuel Morton?
American doctor who popularized the idea that race could be correlated with skull size, which reflected group differences in intelligence
when did phrenology gain popularity? why?
- 1830s-40s
- used to scientifically justify the continued practice of slavery
when were psychodynamic theories dominant?
1920s-50s
why did psychodynamic theories rise to prominence?
- historical context of explicit racism and the after math of the holocaust
- people wanted to leave scientific racism behind
- tried to explain why individuals are prejudiced and how the actions of the holocaust could be psychologically explained
what is the psychodynamic view of prejudice?
- prejudice is irrational and unjustifiable
- rooted in individual difference (personality traits, unconscious defence mechanisms, projection of frustrations onto minorities)
what is the authoritarian personality? (who, when)
- a set of personality traits associated with belief in obedience to authority and oppression of subordinate groups
- Adorno, 1950
what is the psychodynamic explanation for the authoritarian personality?
- the id produces negative impulses, which cannot be properly controlled by the ego
- psychic conflict then projects those negative impulses onto minority groups and greater respect for authority
when were sociocultural theories dominant?
1960s and 70s, during the civil rights movement
what is the sociocultural view of prejudice?
prejudice is a manifestation of cultural norms and values
when were cognitive theories dominant?
1980s to present
what is the cognitive view of prejudice?
- prejudice is a universal phenomenon that emerges from low-level mental processes
- prejudice is a feature of the mind, which may not be “right” but is to be expected
who popularized the cognitive theory of prejudice?
Gordon Allport
what is schema theory (in regards to stereotypes/inter-group relations)?
- people organize info in their minds by subconsciously creating categories and scripts through experience or exposure
- stereotypes can be explained as “schemas gone wrong”, as our generalizations and categorizations are projected onto groups of people in a way that is harmful or inaccurate
- part of the cognitive model of prejudice
when were evolutionary theories dominant?
1990s to present
what is the evolutionary view of prejudice?
- prejudice has helped to address social problems in our evolutionary past
- avoidance tendencies when confronted with outgroup members, approach tendencies for friends/family/community members
when were intergroup relations theories dominant?
1970s, during a period of persistent group conflicts in the US and worldwide
what is the intergroup relations theory of prejudice?
- prejudice is a manifestation of relationships between groups
- social structures work to reinforce prejudice in various ways
what is social identity theory?
- social identity = the aspect of our self-concept that is derived from our group memberships
- people fundamentally want to achieve and maintain a positive social identity, and distinguish our own social groups from other social groups
who developed the minimal groups paradigm?
Tajfel et al, 1971
what situations may make self-categorization/social identity more salient?
threats to ingroup
what is optimal distinctiveness theory? (+who/when)
- people want to strike a balance between their group identities and their personal identities
- balancing uniqueness and a sense of belonging
- Brewer, 1993
what is Hogg and Abrams’ self esteem hypothesis?
- self esteem is intrinsically linked to group identity
- we cannot always choose our own group membership; belonging to a marginalized group can have negative effects on one’s own self image
