Module 9: Prejudice to Discrimination

What is discrimination?

Treating people differently based on membership in a social group.

Can discrimination favor certain groups?

Yes. It can give undeserved advantages to a preferred group.

What did LaPiere's 1930s study examine?

How businesses treated a Chinese couple versus their stated attitudes.

Spent 2 years with a Chinese couple (1882-1943 Chinese immigrants were not wanted for labor)

What happened when LaPiere visited businesses?

The Chinese couple was refused service only once (66 hotels, 184 resturants).

What did over 90% of businesses later report?

They said they would not accept patrons of Chinese descent.

What was the main conclusion of LaPiere's study?

Negative attitudes do not always produce discriminatory behavior.

What is blatant discrimination?

Intentional, visible, unequal, and harmful treatment.

Ex: Someone calling someone else a slur

What is subtle discrimination?

Less obvious unequal treatment, sometimes seen as normal.

Ex: Giving a Black student harsher punishment without recognizing racial bias

What is the difference between active and passive discrimination?

The main difference between active and passive discrimination is whether someone takes action to discriminate or discriminates by failing to act.

- Active discrimination: Directly doing something that unfairly harms or disadvantages someone because of their group membership.

Ex: A manager intentionally gives a female employee fewer opportunities than male employees.

- Passive discrimination: Failing to do something, resulting in unfair treatment or disadvantages.

Ex: A manager consistently overlooks a female employee for promotions while considering male employees.

What are microaggressions?

Small everyday verbal or nonverbal behaviors that demean social groups.

Are microaggressions always intentionally harmful?

No. They can result from confusion or lack of awareness.

What is an example of a microaggression?

Repeatedly asking an Asian American born in the U.S. where they are really from.

What is covert discrimination?

Purposeful, hidden, and often malicious unequal treatment.

What is an example of covert discrimination?

Secretly telling Black families no apartments are available when they are.

What is interpersonal discrimination?

Discriminatory behavior directed from one individual toward another.

How strongly does prejudice predict discrimination?

Only modestly; attitudes do not always predict behavior.

What does the theory of planned behavior explain?

How intentions, attitudes, social norms, and control influence behavior.

What best predicts a specific discriminatory behavior?

The person's intention to perform that specific behavior.

Do group attitudes directly determine behavior?

No. They indirectly influence behavioral intentions.

What three factors influence behavioral intentions?

Attitudes toward the behavior, subjective norms, and perceived control.

What is attitude toward a specific behavior?

How positively or negatively someone evaluates performing that action.

What are subjective norms?

Perceived group expectations about how members should behave.

What is perceived behavioral control?

How much control someone believes they have over an action.

What was the waiting-room seating study about?

Whether perceived social support affected seating distance from a Black person.

Who was most influenced by norms in the seating study?

Participants with higher levels of racial prejudice.

What happened when prejudiced participants perceived low support?

They sat closer to the Black confederate.

Do behavioral intentions always predict actual behavior?

No. Some behaviors are difficult to consciously control.

What type of prejudice best predicts nonverbal behavior?

Implicit prejudice, because nonverbal responses are harder to control.

What is internal motivation to control prejudice?

Avoiding prejudice because being fair aligns with personal values.

What is external motivation to control prejudice?

Avoiding prejudice because of social pressure or fear of disapproval.

How does internal motivation relate to prejudice?

Higher internal motivation is associated with less prejudice.

Why can external motivation sometimes increase prejudice?

Social pressure may create resentment and reduce genuine self-regulation.

Which motivation combination produces the lowest implicit prejudice?

High internal motivation and low external motivation.

What is self-determination theory?

A theory linking motivation and well-being to three basic psychological needs.

What are the three basic psychological needs?

Autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

What does autonomy mean?

Feeling free to make your own choices.

What does competence mean?

Feeling capable and effective in your actions.

What does relatedness mean?

Feeling connected to and supported by others.

What are autonomy-supportive antiprejudice messages?

Messages encouraging people to freely choose and value nonprejudice.

What are controlling antiprejudice messages?

Messages emphasizing social obligations, pressure, and punishment.

Which antiprejudice messages tend to work better?

Autonomy-supportive messages.

What did Legault, Gutsell, and Inzlicht (2011) find?

Controlling messages could increase prejudice, sometimes more than no message.

What is restraint motivation?

Suppressing prejudiced responses to avoid conflict or arguments.

How is restraint different from external motivation?

Restraint avoids conflict; external motivation avoids social disapproval.

What childhood experiences encourage internal motivation?

Egalitarian parenting and positive childhood contact with minority groups.

What childhood experiences are linked to restraint motivation?

Prejudiced parents, limited interracial contact, and negative experiences.

Who is most affected by group social norms?

People who strongly identify with the group.

What is regressive prejudice?

Unintended prejudice expressed by people who are normally low in prejudice.

What four factors influence regressive prejudice?

Behavioral control, executive function, disinhibitors, and moral credentials.

How can cognitive load increase regressive prejudice?

It depletes mental resources needed to control prejudiced responses.

What are disinhibitors?

Factors that reduce motivation to control prejudiced behavior.

What are common disinhibitors?

Alcohol, anonymity, strong emotions, authority approval, and others' behavior.

What are moral credentials?

Past nonprejudiced actions that make people feel they cannot be prejudiced.

Why can moral credentials increase prejudice?

They reduce concern that later actions will be seen as prejudiced.

What did the moral credentials studies demonstrate?

After establishing nonprejudiced credentials, people were more willing to express biased views.

How do low-prejudice people react to acting prejudiced?

They commonly experience guilt and discomfort.

How do high-prejudice people react to being confronted?

They are more likely to experience anger and irritation.

What is workplace discrimination?

Workplace policies or behaviors causing different outcomes for social groups.

What is an employment audit?

A study comparing equally qualified applicants from different social groups.

What do employment audits show about White applicants?

They are more likely to receive interviews, positive ratings, and job offers.

How much experience was being White equivalent to in one hiring finding?

Approximately eight additional years of experience for an interview callback.

Do women generally receive lower performance evaluations than men?

No. Average ratings are similar across positions, but bias occurs in managerial roles.

How do White and Black employees' performance evaluations compare?

White employees receive higher average ratings; workplace discrimination may contribute.

How do promotion rates differ for minority employees?

Minority employees are promoted less often and typically wait longer.

Why might minority employees face fewer promotions?

Fewer opportunities, less influential mentors, lower-level job tracks, and less positive reviews.