Week 11 Stereotypes & Prejudice Flashcards
What is stereotyping?
the process of ascribing characteristic of people based on their group memberships
What is prejudice?
a usually negative attitude towards members of a group - based solely upon their membership to that group (study of intergroup behaviour)
We can also have positive prejudicial attitudes towards members of our own group, ie. in-group prejudice
What is discrimination?
Discrimination = the negative actions towards and individual or members of a group on the basis of group membership
What is positive / reverse discrimination?
Discriminating against one’s in-group (usually majority) for members of an out-group (usually minority)
What is tokenism?
It involves instances in which individuals or business public perform trivial positive actions for members of groups they believe are prejudiced against, and often leads to an excuse not to do anything more substantial
Causes of prejudice - What does LaBon say about group influence?
the madness of crowds from observations of protests, behaviours from crowds was due to a dehumanising process
thus easier and safer to display prejudice
Causes of prejudice - What does Zimbardo say about groups via deindividuation?
In large groups people become deindividuated through
- the anonymity provide in large groups
- the lowered sense of personal responsibility for their actions
thus easier and safer to display prejudice
Causes of prejudice - What did Adorno say about prejudice?
Claimed that the authorisation personality type believed to be caused by parenting practising and upbringing, ie. harsh discipline lead to targeting weaker and more vulnerable groups
Causes of prejudice - What did Rokeach say about prejudice could be caused by?
Rokeach in 1960 developed ‘dogmatism’ a cognitive style of thinking that is rigid, intolerant and close minded
Distinguishing prejudice from “normal people” (psychoanalytical foundations)
What do categorisation explanations show about why we form prejudicial attitudes?
Allport = Formation rational process of in-group and out-group categorisations
Sheriff = In group behaviour and attitudes are influenced by the interests of one group in relation to the competitive interests of the other group (Israel & Palestine)
How do cognitive miser help explain prejudice?
Cognitive misers are a rational process that claim that stereotyping and prejudice stems from our need to grossly simplify information about other
We do this due to the complexity and hugeness of our social world- we cannot afford to know people intimately
What does Hamilton say about the rational process of stereotypes?
Stereotypes are producers of generalised and necessary cognitive process that are inadvertently produce error
A correct/accurate perception can only be achieved through individual perception
What are the 3 levels in the hierarchical system of self-classifications?
Subordinate/interpersonal level = personal categorisation
Intermediate level of group membership = when you’re a member of some social in-group
Superordinate level of self as a human being = talking about ourselves as human beings
What are the 3 ways of obtaining a more positive social identity? Remember even children do this.
[individual, permeable] Social mobility = you leave into a group that is more positive/higher status
[Group, permeable] Social creativity = you measure/distinguish your group based on a particular dimension that puts your group in a more positive light
[Group, impermeable] Social change = after a recognition that your group is actually worse, and you engage in social change, ie. protests, riots to change your group status
Out of social mobility, creativity and change, which 2 are when permeable barriers exist? And which one is when you perceive the barriers to be impermeable?
Permeable = social mobility & creativity
Impermeable = social change