Unit 2.2: Spoiled Identities & How to respond

Question 1

What did Tajfel’s minimal group studies show?

Answer 1

That mere group categorization (e.g. putting participants into group A and B) induces outgroup discrimination.

Meaningful attribution (e.g. conflict of interest) for different groups is not necessary

Question 2

What is positive differentiation?

Answer 2

The process of highlighting and celebrating the difference between groups (diff. qualities & strengths)

Question 3

Where does outgrup discrimination stem from

Answer 3

A love prejudice towards the ingroup, which is driven by a need for positive self-regard (viewing self positively due to membership with a positive group)

Question 4

What is INGROUP positive differentiation

Answer 4

when an individual views the differences in characteristics between ingroup and outgroup as being more favorable for their ingroup

Question 5

What is internal homogeneity? how is it understood in group memberships?

Answer 5

It is the extent to which members within a group are alike.

Individuals tend to view outgroups as MORE internally homogeneous leading to derogation (viewing as less worthy) and depersonalization of members.

Individuals view ingroup as having more variety, plurality and richness –> superior

Question 6

Outline attributional asymmetry

Answer 6

It explains how individuals view and attribute causes of ingroup & outgroup successes and failures. This helps them to maintain positive self-esteem and self-concept

Ingroup success = disposition
Failure = situational

Outgroup success = situational
failure = dispositions

e.g. My team won because we worked hard and we are clever - Their team won because the judge was biased.

Question 7

What is moral exclusion?

Answer 7

The idea is that outgroup members are regarded as outside the boundaries that moral values, rules & fairness applies. This increases chances of exploiting/harming certain groups

Question 8

What are 2 ways to discredit an individuals social label?

Answer 8

Stigma & labels

Question 9

What are the effects fo stigma

Answer 9

It overrides status & category membership (SPOILED IDENITY)
leads to a feeling of loss of individuality and extreme singularity

Question 10

How does seperating schools by race affect students?

Answer 10

It creates a feeling of inferiotity in their community & affects their heart & spirit

Question 11

What is attributional ambiguity

Answer 11

Ambiguity about the reason to attribute to a certain failure for disadvantaged groups

(e.g. a black person not getting a job - unsure whether to attribute this to being a part of the black community or due to not being fit for role?)

Question 12

What are the positive outcomes of attributional ambiguity?

Answer 12

Improves self-esteem for the individual

Question 13

Negative outcomes of attributional ambiguity?

Answer 13

• Incorrect attributions may affect self-assessment and improvement due to missed opportunity of genuine feedback
• Hopelessness: feel controlled by their membership to the group creates a lack of autonomy
• Positive feedback may feel less genuine & view this as also due to group membership (pity, sympathy)

Question 14

What are 3 performance handicaps?

Answer 14

attributional ambiguity
low expectations
stereotype threat

Question 15

What is stereotype threat? How does it affect performance?

Answer 15

risk of underperforming due to being a member of s social group believed to be inferior at that specific task/subject.

This can cause you to feel anxious/doubtful in the pursuit of this task and reduce your performance

Question 16

what are the 2 general approaches to dealing with spoiled identities?

Answer 16

Individual escape (Micheal Jackson- skin whitening)
Social change (Malcom X)

Question 17

What is the main factor that determines whether to choose individual strategies (mobility; escape) or collective strategies (change) when dealing with spoiled identities?

Answer 17

The perceived permeability (difficulty) of intergroup limits (boundaries)

The extent of difficulty is dependent on the type of group/social category (e.g. changing racial membership is very difficult)

Question 18

What are the 2 types of individual mobility when trying to escape negative group membership?

Answer 18

Disidentification
Dissociation

Question 19

Outline Disidentification as a strategy of escaping negative group membership?

Answer 19

Taking a psychological distance.

This could include
- avoiding reminders
- criticise ingroup (black-sheep)
- Consider self as exception

Question 20

Outline dissociation as a strategy for escaping negative group membership?

Answer 20

Creating physical distances & hiding group membership (e.g. hiding being homosexual)

Question 21

What are the 2 moderators when selecting a method of dealing with spoiled identitiy?

Answer 21

Permeability of boundaries
Group identification (loyalty)

Question 22

What are the 2 types of collective action when combatting spoiled identities?

Answer 22

Social competition
Social creativity

Question 23

What is social competition?

Answer 23

When you intend to change the ACTUAL STATUS/OBJECTIVE POSITION of a group in a hierarchy defined by a given criteria

e.g. in a society where women are viewed as stupid - encourage social change by providing women with more education

Question 24

When is social competition used?

Answer 24

When there are unstable hierarchies (low-status group percieved as unstable)

Question 25

How is the stability of a hierarchy determined?

Answer 25

Paradoxical distances: size of status gap = perceived stability (greater gap = more stable)

Small gap between statuses = groups are more likley to defy the system

Question 26

What is social creativity?

Answer 26

A type of social change where groups intend to change the ASSESSMENT CRITERIA that determines which groups are of higher status

Redefine the context of comparison

Question 27

What are the 3 strategies for social creativity?

Answer 27

Changing the frame for comparison
Changing the dimensions of judgement
Changing the value of the characteristics