Stereotyping/Labelling

Question 1

What are the definitions of stereotypes?

Answer 1

Widely shared assumptions about the personalities, attituds and behaviour of people based on group membership, for example ethnicity, nationality, sex, race and class
Stereotypes are categories about people .... are shortcuts to thinking
Stereotypes are schemas about what particular groups are like relative to people in general

Question 2

How are stereotypes developed?

Answer 2

first hand experience
parents, peers, school, media
learned in early childhood
difficult to change

Question 3

What is the 3 step process of stereotyping?

Answer 3

1. We assign a person to a particular group
2. We bring into play certain belief that all members of the group share certain charactristics
3. We infer that this particular individual must posses these characteristics.

Question 4

What is the outgroup homogeneity effect?

What is in group differentitiation hypothesis?

Answer 4

Outgroup homogeneity effect = people tend to perceive member of an outgroup as highly similar to each other
In group differentiation hypothesis = people see all kinds of differenes between members of their own group

Question 5

What are the 3 components of prejudice?

Hint: ABC

Answer 5

Attitude
Behaviour
Cognitive commponent

Question 6

Why do we have prejudices?

Answer 6

Social identity theory - maintains our self-image and self-esteem
Conformity to group norms
Scapegoating

Question 7

What is scapegoating?

Give some examples.

Answer 7

Vent frustration indirectly onto somebody (often minority groups) that has nothing to do with the source of frustration (often unachieved goals/threats from powerful others)
E.g.
Syphilis
The french called it Spanish disease
The English called it French disease
The Russians called it Polish disease

Question 8

What is realistic group conflict theory?
Which famous experiment looked into this?
What are the 3 stages

Answer 8

Summer camp experiment: Eagles and Rattlers
If an outside observer has entered the situation after the conflict began he could have only concluded on the basis of their behaviour that theses bonds (who were the cream of the cirop in their communities) were either disturbed, vicious, or wicked youngsters
1. Group formation
2. Group conflict: In group- brave, tough, friendly, Outgroup - sneaking, stinkers, smart alecks
3. Group resolution

Question 9

What are some of the consequences of stereotypes?

What is stereotype threat?

Answer 9

Stereotypes powerfully affect special perceptions and behaviour
Expectations of others and ourselves are affected by stereotypes
Stereotype threat that behaviour of the outgroup will conform to the negative stereotype

Question 10

What is stigma?

How do prejudice, stereotyping and stigma related to each other?

Answer 10

Any physical or social attribute or sign that devalues a person’s identity such as to disqualify him or her from full social acceptance.
Leading to discrimination
Predjudice –> stereotyping –> stigma

Question 11

What are the 3 consequences of patients with negative stereotypes about doctors?

Answer 11

• less likely to seek medical help
• less satisfied with medical care received
• less likely to adhere to prescribed to treatment

Question 12

How can stereotypes be changed?

Answer 12

Difficult to change - automatically/unconciously activated
Contact hypothesis between in-group and out-group members will sometimes decrease prejudice
Realistic Group Conflict Theory
Education and refelction preferably starting young
Role of media is crucial