THE SOCIAL APPROACH - PREJUDICE Flashcards
What are the key points of realistic conflict theory?
Prejudice is due to competition between groups, for example over shared resources or status
This tension and hostility can be reduced using superordinate goals, where the two groups work together on a shared task and are successful
Sherif et al’s Robber’s Cave Experiment support this
What are the strengths of realistic conflict theory?
Aronson et al introduced co-operation into classrooms where competition was rife using the ‘jigsaw technique’, they found that hostility decreased which supports the success of superordinate goals
Carol and Melvin Ember found that in tribal societies hostility increased when there was competition over resources (eg famine)
Doty et al found that levels of authoritarianism and prejudice increased when the external threat was higher (more likelihood and fear of competition)
What are the weaknesses of realistic conflict theory?
In the Robber’s Cave Experiment there was hostility between the two groups before competition was introduced, showing that competition isn’t needed
Social identity theory provides a better explanation as it explains why it is evident when there is no competition
Can apply the weaknesses of Sherif et al’s Robber’s Cave Experiment
What are the key points of social identity theory?
Competition is not necessary for prejudice, instead it is a result of social categorisation, social identification and social comparison
Heterogenous: all different within a group
Homogenous: all the same (eg generalising everyone outside the group)
Personal identity: own unique identity, including personality and self esteem
Social identity: attitudes of the social group you identify with
What are the strengths of social identity theory?
Tajfel studied 64 teenage boys who were randomly split into two groups and had to allocate rewards, where they consistently rewarded the in group despite never meeting the outgroup (social categorisation)
Aronson and Osherow studied third grade students who were told that their eye colour determined their academic ability, traits and ‘superiority’ which they fulfilled (self identification)
What are the weaknesses of social identity theory?
Cannot explain individual differences in levels of in group loyalty and out group hostility
Dobbs and Crano found that when the in group is a majority there was less in group favouritism and out group hostility, compared to when the in group was a minority which it doesn’t explain
Weatherell found that collectivist cultures are less likely to show prejudice and more likely to favour the out group, showing how social identity theory is not applicable to all cultures
What is frustration aggression theory?
Frustration gives rise to aggression which can lead to displacement or projection onto the minority group, resulting in prejudice (Dollard et al)
What study supports frustration aggression theory?
Hovland and Sears found that the number of black lynchings increased when the prices of cotton went up and farmers were unable to confront the government, so displaced their anger onto the workers
What is a dispositional factor of prejudice and who supports it?
People with an authoritarian personality possess specific traits that mean they could be more likely to be prejudice
This is supported by McFarland et al who found that an authoritarian personality was linked to conservatism, prejudice and people not liking change in Russia
What are situational factors of prejudice and who supports it?
If the culture has existing norms and legitimise prejudice, or social events that trigger it, then culture can be influential
Individualistic cultures lead to more interpersonal prejudice, and collectivist cultures lead to more intergroup prejudice
Weatherell found that collectivist cultures are less likely to show group prejudice
