Prejudice

Theories and research

Definitions (from previous lecture)

Stereotypes Specific traits attributed to people based on group membership (stereotypes are protypes!)

Prejudice (opposite of allophilia) Negative attitudes toward the members of a specific

group

Discrimination Negative behaviors directed toward members of a specific group

Types of prejudice

Discrimination can be institutional or interpersonal, but prejudice is always interpersonal

Prejudice has two components Emotional (how you feel about a group) Cognitive (what you think about a group)

especially the group’s intent and competence to pursue it

Prejudice has many targets Racism Linguicism Ageism Religious intolerance Heterosexism Political intolerance Classism Ableism Sexism

Four types of outgroups

Perception of outgroups (measures)

Fiske et al., 2002, JPSP, 82, 878-902

As viewed by society, how _________ are members of this group?

Competent

Confident

Independent

Competetive

Intelligent

As viewed by society, how __________ are members of this group?

Tolerant

Warm

Good natured

Sincere

Perception of outgroups

Student sample

Fiske et al., 2002, JPSP, 82, 878-902

Paternalistic prejudice

Contemptuous prejudice

Envious prejudice

Allophilia

Perception of outgroupsStudent sample

Community sample in Amherst, MA

Fiske et al., 2002, JPSP, 82, 878-902

Perceptions of outgroups

Allport’s Scale of Prejudice intensity

Antilocution (1) Antilocution (or hate speech) means a majority group freely makes jokes and refers to a minority group in terms of negative stereotypes and negative images. Harmful or not?

Avoidance (2) People in a minority group are actively avoided by members of the majority group. Harmful how?

Discrimination (3) Minority group is discriminated against through the denial of opportunities and services (prejudice in action).

Physical Attack (4) The majority group vandalizes minority property and carries out violent attacks on individuals or groups.

Extermination (5) The majority group seeks extermination of the minority group.

Theories of prejudice

Who/what do we blame for prejudice?

A few “bad apples”?

Morally neutral cognitive wiring (information processing)?

A morally corrupt society?

Theories of prejudice formation

Psychodynamic theory Realistic Conflict theory Social Identity theory Social Learning theory Cognitive theory Classical conditioning theory

Theories of prejudice (psychodynamic)

The prejudiced personality Process: Growing up in authoritarian families Evidence

Some support (high submissiveness, high conformity) Many limitations

Ignores situational factors (1952 Virginia mine study) Ignores sociocultural influences (Princeton study) Fails to explain uniformity (were all Nazis authoritarian?) Fails to explain why specific targets are chosen Fails to explain why most people are capable of out-group

prejudice given the right conditions

Theories of prejudice (realistic conflict)

Realistic Conflict Theory (Sherif, 1961)

Process We compete over scarce resources During competition, the “other” is considered an enemy to

justify trying to “win” Enemy is then dehumanized and scapegoated

Evidence 1958 Southern State lynching study Sherif’s Robber’s Cave study (next 3 slides) Some limitations

Doesn’t explain why there is no inter-occupation conflict Doesn’t explain why prejudice occurs when there is little

competition

Robbers Cave Experiment

Robbers Cave Study

Stage 1:

In-group formation

Robbers Cave Study

Stage 2:

Group competition

Robbers Cave Study

Stage 3:

In-group formation

Theories of prejudice formation/change

Social Identity Theory Identity derived from group affiliation People tend to attribute positive characteristics to

own group and view the other group more critically (ultimate attribution error)

But why does this happen? Self worth (self-esteem) derived from group achievement

and favorable comparisons with other groups Result: People automatically favor in-group members

Evidence Minimum group experiments show in-group favoritism But they don’t show out-group derogation

Theories of prejudice formation/change

Social Learning Theory

Allport’s notion of lack of information coupled with hostility Lack of information makes people rely on stereotypes Hostility makes them look for a group to scapegoat Stereotypes lead to prejudice

Social modeling of prejudice (parents/friends/teachers/media)

Few models of anti-racism

Theories of prejudice formation/change

Classical conditioning theory Process: Fear conditioned through secondary

conditioning (e.g., walking down street with mom)

Even the Well-Intentioned Have Bias

Fiske (2002) - in Western cultures: about 10% of individuals show blatant racism about 80% show subtle racial biases

Subtle racial biases: avoidance of interactions awkwardness slips of the tongue stereotypic assumptions and judgments

Three theories of subtle prejudice

Modern or symbolic racism (Kinder & Sears, 1981) Blaming the victim Support of policies that all happen to disadvantage racial minorities

Ambivalent racism (Katz & Hass, 1988) High scores on pro-Black attitudes (pity for the disadvantaged) High scores on anti-Black attitudes (hostility toward the deviant)

Aversive racism (Gaertner & Dovidio, 1986) A desire to be egalitarian and non-racist Unconscious racist cognitions that are manifested during stress or

ambiguity

Scenes from Crash: Aversive Racism

Character development

Racism or not racism

Fighting prejudice

Contact theory (antidote to realistic group conflict)

Equal status contact

Contact should have high acquaintance potential

Out-group members must not conform to stereotypes

Contact situation must encourage cooperation

Group contact must be supported by authority

Fighting prejudice (continued)

Work on yourself Become aware of personal (and societal) stereotypes Get to know people as individuals who are part of groups Avoid just-world beliefs Be aware of self-fulfilling prophecies Avoid blaming the victim

Work on others Do not tolerate prejudicial remarks, including jokes Share what you think and believe, without attacking

Promote multiculturalism Change the metaphor Educate yourself Learn a foreign language Diversify circle of friends

Tolerance is not enough