Stereotypes, Prejudice & Discrimination

Question 1

What are stereotypes?

Answer 1

cognitive beliefs or associations linking a whole group of people with certain traits or characteristics

Question 2

What are the consequences of stereotypes?

Answer 2

1. can distort our perceptions and make us resistant to change
2. resolve ambiguity
3. self-fulfilling prophecies as expectations influence interaction and therefore changes behaviour in line with assumptions
4. stigma

Question 3

What is prejudice?

Answer 3

negative feelings towards certain people based on their group membership

Question 4

What is discrimination?

Answer 4

behaviour directed against people based on their group membership

Question 5

What is hostile sexism?

Answer 5

negative, resentful feelings about women

Question 6

What is benevolent sexism?

Answer 6

chivalrous feelings that can be patronising

Question 7

What is modern racism?

Answer 7

surfaces in subtle ways often in socially acceptable contexts

Question 8

What is aversive racism?

Answer 8

the ambivalence between being fair and unconscious prejudices

Question 9

What is microaggressions?

Answer 9

Everyday, typically subtle forms of discrimination

Question 10

What are the effects of prejudice and discrimination?

Answer 10

• reluctance to help minorities improve their position in society
• tokenism
• reverse discrimination
• social stigma (self-fulfilling prophecies)
• reduced self-esteem

Question 11

What are the disadvantages of prejudice and discrimination?

Answer 11

• Dehumanisation

- Violence and genocide, including cultural

Question 12

What are innate reactions?

Answer 12

Human’s inherent fear of the unfamiliar

Question 13

What are learned reactions?

Answer 13

Role of parental attitudes

Question 14

what is an authoritarian personality?

Answer 14

Harsh parental treatment so respect for authority and displaced anger leads to prejudice or dogmatism - rigid cognitive style

Question 15

what is relative deprivation theory?

Answer 15

Discontent from belief one fares poorly compared to others

Question 16

What is the realistic conflict theory?

Answer 16

Hostility between groups caused by direct competition for limited resources
(Summer camp study)

Question 17

What is social identity theory?

Answer 17

Group membership and intergroup relations focussing on social vs personal identity

Question 18

What are the outcomes of social identity?

Answer 18

• Ethnocentrism/ingroup favouritism
• Conformity to group norms
• Stereotyping of own (ingroup) and other (outgroup) group members

Question 19

What is self-categorisation theory?

Answer 19

Categories based on cognitive representations of groups

Question 20

What is the outgroup homogeneity effect?

Answer 20

Assumes greater similarity among members of outgroups than ingroups

Question 21

How is propaganda used to reduce prejudice and discrimination?

Answer 21

Messages to create norms denouncing prejudice

Question 22

What is Allport’s contact hypothesis?

Answer 22

Contact leads to intergroup harmony but needs, prolonged cooperative activity, official sanctioning, equal social status, similarities emphasized and outgroup members seen as typical

Question 23

How are communication and conciliation used to reduce prejudice and discrimination?

Answer 23

Bargaining, meditation, arbitration and conciliation

Question 24

What is another strategy to reduce prejudice and discrimination established from the summer camp study?

Answer 24

Superordinate goals