SOURCES OF PREJUDICE Flashcards
Attitude and Prejudice - ABC
- affect –> prejudice
- behaviour –> discrimination
- cognition –> stereotypes
What are stereotypes?
- beliefs that certain attributes are characteristic of members of particular groups
- can be positive or negative
Where do stereotypes come from?
- culture
- the home
- media
- social groups (church, school)
Key parts of modern racism
- denial there is continuing discrimination
- resentment about demands made my disadvantaged groups for equal treatment
- resentment about concessions made to disadvantaged groups
What is aversive racism?
- individuals state they have egalitarian views and will not be openly discriminatory
- consequences: avoidance of outgroup members, anxiety, overcorrection, subtle discrimination
What is institutional/systemic racism?
- differential access to goods, services, opportunities of society by group status
- neighbourhood, income, education - difficult to correct
What is hostile sexism?
“most women fail to appreciate all that men do for them”
- overtly negative/harsh
What is benevolent sexism?
“a good woman ought to be set on a pedestal by her man”
- demeaning, decrease confidence, encourage subordination
3 main causes of stereotypes and prejudice
- economic perspectives
- motivational perspectives
- cognitive perspectives
What are economic perspectives?
realistic conflict theory = hostility between groups
What are motivational groups?
social identity theory = people favour ingroups over outgroups to enhance own self esteem
What are illusory correlations?
- distinctive events capture attention
- more likely to be remembered
- may become overrepresented in memory
How do illusory correlations contribute to prejudice?
- minority groups are distinctive because they are infrequent in North America
- people are likely to note negative behaviours by minority behaviours
- reinforce stereotypes that minorities do negative things
What are cognitive misers?
anyone who seeks out quick, adequate solutions to problems rather than slow, careful ones
What is the “shoving study” - Duncan - 1976
- white person shoves black person = 13% say it was aggressive
- black person shoves white person = 73% say it was aggressive
Robber’s Cave Study
- 22 middle class 5th grade boys
- formation of group identity
- competition for resources created stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination
- reduction of intergroup conflict by introducing subordinate goal
Key parts of prejudice from childhood/family life
children can retain a habitual/automatic fear/dislike for people whom they now express respect and admiration
Key parts of gender based prejudiced
- strong gender stereotypes are often accepted by those they are directed at
- when we violate stereotypes, people react
- in non-Western, gender discrimination is less subtle
- parent hopes for children and not gender neutral
Key parts of LGBT prejudice
- anti-gay attitudes are strongest among those who are older, less educated, male, heterosexual men
The Authoritarian Personality and Prejudice
- personality that is disposed to favour obedience to authority and intolerance of outgroups and those lower in status
- security and control
Key parts of religion and prejudice
- many govt leaders invoke religion to sanctify present order
- intrinsically religious are less prejudiced
Key parts of conformity and prejudice
- if prejudice is socially accepted –> ppl follow path of least resistance and conform
- more likely to favour/oppose discrimination after hearing someone else do so
- less support of women after hearing sexist humour
- if govt expresses hate –> more hate in general
What is social dominance orientation?
- accepts and prefers circumstances that maintain social status inequalities
- concerned with group status
What is ethnocentrism?
- intolerance for weakness
- punitive attitude
- submissive respect for their group’s authorities
