Week 4/5 Lecture stereotypes Flashcards
When are stereotypes more likely to be functional?
When they are…
1. relatively accurate
2. shared by the target group
3. are associated with positive (or a least neutral) evaluations of the group.
Why do stereotypes sometimes go wrong → when the functional parts are not present
- they can make it difficult for us to recognize and use individuation (personal) information.
a. we hold on to them vigorously even when we have individuating characteristics.
b. when we stereotype, we generalize everything and join groups together →, exaggerate their similarities.
c. a direct result of categorization
- depersonalization: exaggerate the similarity within groups.
d. stereotypes provide hypotheses that lead to a confirmation bias.
- limited search
- biased interpretation of evidence.
- subtyping and exceptionalizing (women are like this… but what about so and so… well she is an exception, BUT everyone else is the same→ subtyping)
- Exceptionalizing; we like that we are assertive, but someone in a different group that we don’t like acts the same way→ we say they’re pushy or aggressive. (Consistent w our own stereotypes)
- Different attributions for the same outcomes/ behaviours.
- The content of stereotypes can be inaccurate and not shared by the target group.
a. A direct result of categorization
- Accentuation of difference between groups
b. Stereotypes emerge quickly without sufficient knowledge about (and/ or experience with) the outgroup.
- The content of stereotypes can be inaccurate and negative.
a. Motivated stereotyping: stereotypes provide explanation excuses/ justifications for …
- Existing inequalities between groups (stereotypes can justify the status quo).
- Previous harm that “we” have done to “them” (we hate those harm)
- Our own group’s privilege (positive self-stereotypes)
- Sometimes, we need to make assumption 4s about people→, age stereotypes, → how to behave around the elderly in comparison to kids.
- Stereotypes can become self-perpetuating.
a. The self-fulfilling prophecy → endorsing self-stereotypes
- We interact with targets of stereotypes in a way that produces stereotype-consistent behaviour from the target.
- The stereotype in your head that produces behaviours in accordance with that stereotype- produce behaviours you engage in. Those behaviours then lead the other person to engage in exactly the behaviours that you expected.
What is stereotype threat?
The possibility of confirming a negative stereotype about one’s ingroup can be threatening and can impair performance.
- Stereotype threat: even the possibility of confirming the negative stereotypes of your group can be threatening→ to interfere with your performance which leads to confirming your stereotypes.
- ST itself is NOT discrimination – Nobody needs to treat the target negatively.
- It is not necessary for anyone in the situation to believe the negative stereotype is true.
- ST is NOT believing the stereotype: Those affected by ST do not believe the stereotype is true.
- ST occurs when the person is working at the frontiers of their ability.
- It adds to the normal threat of difficult tasks (“If I do badly, I will be seen as incompetent & I will confirm a negative stereotype about my group.”)
- Everyone is looking at me because of the group I belong to.
- My group will look bad to others.
- I will let other ingroup members down.
- ST is domain and situation-specific – ST occurs only when & where the negative stereotype is relevant and salient.
- It is those who most identified with a domain that are most threatened by negative stereotypes relevant to that domain.
- However, within the relevant domains, ST can be recurrent and even continuous.
- While people can adapt to some of the cues that make negative stereotypes salient, it is very difficult to adapt to ST entirely.
What are 4 reasons why someone might confirm a negative stereotype about their group (perform poorly in a stereotype-relevant domain)
- when the target accepts/ internalizes the stereotype
a. maybe I am not good at math because I am a woman - When the target acquiesces to the stereotype (social pressure)
a. I could do better at math, but I don’t want to upset my boyfriend/ Grandpa/ grandma/ boss, etc.> I have to act like a woman.
b. sports → playing sports makes a woman less attractive
c. Explicity (consciously), implicitly (unconsciously). - Stereotypes can become self-perpetuating
a. the self-fulfilling prophecy: treatment by the holder of the stereotype
i. we interact with targets of stereotype in a way that produces stereotype-consistent behaviour
ii. A male math teacher is less helpful (or too helpful) to female students because he believes they are not as good or as competent at math. Thus, female students perform poorly on math tests. - stereotype threat
a. the possibility of confirming a negative stereotype about one’s ingroup can be threatening and can impair performance.
b. women are as good at math as men, and I need to show them that this is true. I really need to do extremely well on this test.
How does being aware of a positive stereotype about one’s ingroup influence group members?
- Self-fulfilling prophecy → if there’s a stereotype of your group being good at something, you might try harder to be good at it.
- Positive stereotypes can lead to prude and positive, and collective self-esteem
Stereotype boost
- Positive stereotypes can be a source of confidence
- Positive stereotypes can be evidence that effort will pay off in this domain
- Positive stereotypes can create high expectations that lead to effort and to higher performance
How are positive stereotypes bad?
- Positive stereotypes can create additional pressure and choking *
- Positive stories can add pressure when the task is difficult
- Ps can create unrealistic expectations* for those with less ability in the domain
- Ps can be esp hard on that individual who does not fit the stereotypes.
- Positive stereotypes maintain the focus on groups/ categories even when individual identities may be preferred or more useful.
- Positive stereotypes can be a reminder of negative stereotypes *
- Waiting for the other shoe to drop.
- Cant be a racist if they say one good thing (assumption)
- Positive stereotypes can lead to essentialization and discounting of effort. *
- Of course, you people are good at that. You’re so lucky.
- Not because of your hard work, but because of genetics/ of course, you did good on that.
- Diminish your hard work.
What is prejudice?
A judgement or evaluation of a group and its members. (Some definitions include emotions and feelings associated with that judgement).
- Note: There is positive prejudice, but most definitions ignore this positive side of attitudes about groups.
Prejudice is NOT just blatant disrespect and antipathy.
- prejudice is less obvious
a. Blatant “old fashioned” Prejudice vs. Subtle “modern” Prejudice
i. Withholding of positive emotions/feelings/evaluations (ask how much you admire that group)
1. Absence of the positive terms of the group (show variation)
ii. Denying inequality and endorsing justifications for inequality.
1. Deny the difference between the pay range between men and women (how to measure their inequality views)
2. More subtle ways of expressing less positive & more negative views. - Ambivalent Prejudices
a. Judgements can be both positive and negative (e.g., Nice but Dumb)
i. Simultaneous beliefs- both positive & negative evaluations of the same group.
Ambivalent/ compensatory prejudice serves a purpose(s)
- They allow us to feel better about ourselves when making negative judgements.
- They allow us to justify intergroup inequality and “control” (discrimination) of other groups.
- the pattern of stereotypes matches the specific form of inequality or control.
- Prejudice vs Ingroup Bias
a. Beyond Evaluation of the Outgroup
b. Consider the Relative Evaluation of the Ingroup vs. Outgroup - Conscious Evaluations vs. Unconscious Evaluations
- Some negative prejudices are hidden even from ourselves.
explicit vs. implicit prejudice
Explicit Prejudices are activated when we become consciously aware of the group.
- How we “think/know” we feel about the group
- Amenable to conscious control/evaluation
Implicit Prejudices are activated by preconscious priming of the group (mere exposure).
- Unconscious/Unaware
- Automatic and less amenable to conscious control
IAT: what does it show?
- Ingroup Bias: People tend to respond faster (and with fewer errors) when their own group label is paired with “good” and the other group label is paired with “bad.”
- (The association of “ us” with “good” and “them” with “bad” is stronger than the other way around.) - Group Status: This effect tends to be larger for higher-status (e.g., majority) groups than for lower-status groups (e.g., minority)
