PrejudicePrejudice

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What is the difference between: Race? Ethnicity? Minority Group?

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Race Different characteristics are physical,

innate, and biologically inherited Classifications are socially defined

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Ethnic Group Different characteristics are cultural

Language, food, values, religion, art, music, etc.

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Minority Group Disadvantaged: Members excluded

from full participation in society Held in low esteem: Socially isolated Membership is involuntary, ascribed Self-conscious: See themselves as set

apart

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A Sociological View of A Sociological View of Intergroup RelationsIntergroup Relations Amalgamation

Melting pot; new cultural/genetic blend

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A Sociological View of A Sociological View of Intergroup RelationsIntergroup Relations Assimilation

Racial and ethnic minorities absorbed into the culture; differences disappear

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A Sociological View of A Sociological View of Intergroup RelationsIntergroup Relations Pluralism

Racial and ethnic groups maintain distinct identity; participate jointly in politics and economy

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A Sociological View of A Sociological View of Intergroup RelationsIntergroup Relations Exploitation

Racial and ethnic differences used to rationalize exploitation

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A Sociological View of A Sociological View of Intergroup RelationsIntergroup Relations Ethnic Conflict

Ethnocentrism combined with struggle for resources

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We categorize othersWe categorize others In-Group

Social group to which a person belongs (“us”) We care about others’ welfare, cooperate with We feel we are alike

Out-Group Social group to which a person does not

belong (“them”) We don’t care about group members’ welfare We feel we are very different

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CategorizationCategorization Assimilation

Differences within a category are minimized

Contrast Differences between categories are exaggerated

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PrejudicePrejudice Positive or negative attitude towards

individuals based on their membership in a particular social group

Prejudgment

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Prejudice is an Prejudice is an AttitudeAttitude Affect

Emotions

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Prejudice is an Prejudice is an AttitudeAttitude Affect

Behavioral Tendencies Inclination to act according to prejudice Discrimination: Positive or negative

behavior directed toward the persons or groups who are targets of prejudice

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Institutional DiscriminationInstitutional Discrimination Systematic discrimination against a

group of people (includes racism, sexism)

Not necessarily the result of prejudice!

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Institutional DiscriminationInstitutional Discrimination Children of alumni receive preference for

admission into some private colleges. Employees of a particular university are

allowed free tuition, as are their spouses. A public hearing is held on the third floor

of building without elevators. A fire department requires that applicants

for the position of firefighter be 5'8" or taller.

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Prejudice is an Prejudice is an AttitudeAttitude Affect

Behavioral Tendencies

Cognition Thoughts and beliefs Stereotypes: A cognitive framework

that generalizes certain characteristics to all members of a specific social group

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StereotypesStereotypes Often work as mental shortcuts

Implicit stereotyping can ‘prime’ relevant behavior and attitudes (Bargh, Chen, & Burrows, 1996)

Media stereotypes: Cumulative effect over time

Stereotype threat:Stereotype threat: Anxiety that behavior might confirm a

negative stereotype; hampers performance

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Racial PrejudiceRacial Prejudice Overt racial prejudice and

discrimination are have declined significantly in the last 60 years

Subtle prejudice: Non-obvious, arises when it’s ‘safe’ to express

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Racial PrejudiceRacial Prejudice Study: Applying stereotyping and

prejudice to an ambiguous behavior Participants observe a videotape of a

man lightly shoving another man during conversation

White man

Black man

13%

Black man

White man

73%

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Gender PrejudiceGender Prejudice Stereotypes of men and women Overt gender bias has been declining Subtle gender bias still exists

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Where does prejudice come Where does prejudice come from?from? Social Sources Emotional Sources Cognitive Sources

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Social Sources of PrejudiceSocial Sources of Prejudice Social inequalitiesSocial inequalities

Self-fulfilling prophecy Study 1:

Do Whites treat African Americans and Whites differently?

Participants interviewed a confederate for a job

Confederate: African American or White

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Social Sources of PrejudiceSocial Sources of Prejudice Social inequalitiesSocial inequalities

Self-fulfilling prophecy Results: Study 1

Interview length: AA < WDistance: AA > WEye contact: AA < WSpeech dysfluencies: AA > W

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Social Sources of PrejudiceSocial Sources of Prejudice Social inequalitiesSocial inequalities

Self-fulfilling prophecy Study 2

Does differential treatment influence behavior?

Confederates interviewed participant for job

Treated participant like African Americans or Whites were treated in Study 1

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Social Sources of PrejudiceSocial Sources of Prejudice Social inequalitiesSocial inequalities

Self-fulfilling prophecy Results Study 2:

Participants treated like African Americans performed worse than participants treated like Whites

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Social Sources of PrejudiceSocial Sources of Prejudice Social inequalities In-Group BiasIn-Group Bias

Viewing our in-group positively helps us feel good about ourselves

Natural tendency to view out-group negatively

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Social Sources of PrejudiceSocial Sources of Prejudice Social inequalities In-Group Bias Institutional SupportsInstitutional Supports

Reflect a culture’s assumptions Reinforce culture’s attitudes and

stereotypes

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Emotional Sources of Emotional Sources of PrejudicePrejudice Realistic Group Conflict TheoryRealistic Group Conflict Theory

Frustration brings out hostility When cause of frustration is vague,

hostility can be redirected Competing for resources brings out

frustration and hostility Scapegoating: Group blamed for

problems

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Emotional Sources of Emotional Sources of PrejudicePrejudice

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Emotional Sources of Emotional Sources of PrejudicePrejudice

Realistic Group Conflict Theory Authoritarian Personality TheoryAuthoritarian Personality Theory

Authoritarian submissionAuthoritarian submission A high degree of submission to authorities who are

perceived to be established and legitimate Authoritarian aggressionAuthoritarian aggression

A general aggressiveness, directed against various persons, that is perceived to be sanctioned by established authorities.

ConventionalismConventionalism A high degree of adherence to the social conventions

that are perceived to be endorsed by society and its established authorities.

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Cognitive Sources of Cognitive Sources of PrejudicePrejudice CategorizationCategorization

In-Groups and Out-Groups The Minimal Group Paradigm

Out-Group Homogeneity EffectOut-Group Homogeneity Effect Members of an out-group perceived as

similar

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Cognitive Sources of Cognitive Sources of PrejudicePrejudice Categorization DistinctivenessDistinctiveness

Distinctive occurrences, vivid examples are easily remembered

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Cognitive Sources of Cognitive Sources of PrejudicePrejudice Categorization Distinctiveness AttributionAttribution

Fundamental Attribution Error and Group-Serving Bias

Just-World Phenomenon

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Sherif’s Robbers Cave StudySherif’s Robbers Cave Study

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Can prejudice be reduced?Can prejudice be reduced? Contact Hypothesis

What kind of intergroup contact would increase prejudice? Decrease prejudice?

Cooperative contact Jigsaw classroom

Formal education Selective perception Diversity training