SOCPSY W11: Prejudice, Stereotyping, & Discrimination

Prejudice

Generalised attitude toward members of a social category

Stereotypes

Beliefs about members of a social category

Discrimination

Behaviours directed toward others because of their group membership

Link between the three (PSD): 

*Note: each of these can be positive, negative or neutral

The nature of discriminatory behaviours

Doesn’t have to be morally wrong, just needs to be exclusive/treat certain people differently

Real life example of discrimination in new car salesrooms

Different concessions were made based on race (& gender): white women > black women > black men (though they used the same bargaining strategies)

Sexual harassment

Unwanted sexual behaviour acted on an individual 

Sexual harassment perception based on status differences

Harassment is considered more harassing when performed by person in power (perceived as an abuse of power)

But social status is also viewed more favourably by:

Women

Ev: Women found it to be more upsetting if asked repeatedly on a date by construction workers, garbage collectors, janitors, and gas station attendants than premed students, grad students or rock stars 

Sexual harassment perception based on attractiveness differences

Considered less harassing when performed by an attractive single individual

Sexual harassment perception based on gender difference

Women more likely to define staring and flirting as sexually harassing than men

Explicit vs Implicit prejudice

• Explicit: positive or negative feelings of which you are aware (and consciously display)

• Implicit: feelings of which you are unaware (unconscious, natural attitudes) 

Example of what would tap into both explicit & implicit prejudice

Asking someone’s feelings towards CMIO

Stereotype threat

When a salient negative stereotype of your group impairs your performance

Eg. white men did worse in math when they thought they were being compared to an Asian

(study x2)

4 Goals of PSD: (SMSG)

1. Seeking mental efficiency

2. Managing self-image

3. Supporting and protecting one’s group

4. Gaining social approval

Seeking mental efficiency 

Using cognitive heuristics based on stereotypes

Advantage and limitations of stereotypes

(+)

• Contain at least a kernel of truth (elements of accuracy)

(-)

• Don’t account for individual differences

Eg. Overestimating sex differences in aggression —> there’s a wider variation of aggressiveness in both genders in reality 

 

Why do we often increase distinctions between groups and decrease differences within groups

To save time and cognitive effort 

Outgroup homogeneity

We are likely to perceive members of outgroups to be more similar to each other than members of our in-group to be (“they are alike; we are diverse”)

How does mood affect one’s use in stereotypes and cognitive shortcuts?

A happy person, or one who has arousing emotions (eg. anger, anxiety, fear, euphoria) is more likely to use cognitive shortcuts and rely on stereotypes

Managing self-image (no definition)

Social identity

Beliefs and feelings we have toward the group we consider we belong to

Social identity theory

Part of our identity is derived from our membership in groups

What do we do to feel good about our groups?

Compare our in-group with less well-off outgroups (like how individual social comparison can boost self-esteem)

R/S between self-esteem and derogation of outgroups

People with low SE generally derogate outgroups more commonly

Exception to that

People with high SE may exhibit more prejudice when their self-image is threatened with failure

(study)

Supporting and protecting one’s group (no definition)

Realistic conflict theory

Intergroup conflict, negative prejudices and stereotypes emerge from actual competition between groups over desired resources

Eg. Israel-Palestine war

Minimal intergroup paradigm

Research method that demonstrates how individuals show favouritism toward their in-group, even when group distinctions are trivial or arbitrary; meaningless

(study) 

Social dominance orientation (SDO)

Measures one's preference for group-based hierarchies (their group to dominate others) and social inequality (be socially and materially superior to them)

Examples of weaker groups in 4 countries whom high SDO people prejudiced against:

• Arabs, blacks & homosexual individuals in the US

• Natives & asian immigrants in Canada

• Native Taiwanese in Taiwan

• Sephardic Jews & Palestinians in Israel

Differences in SDO based on gender

Men are higher in SDO across cultures and are more likely to:

• Seek jobs involving dominance eg. police, military

• Band together to conquer other groups

Why? (evolutionary explanation)

Dominance is linked to male mating success; SDO can be linked to sexual selection

Real life examples of intergroup competition

1. Economic downturn increased lynchings of Blacks in the South, and increased violence against Blacks and immigrants in the North 

2. Eagles vs Rattlers summer camp: boys in competing teams raided e/o’s cabins, stole & burnt their flags, and viewed them negatively 

Gaining social approval (no definition)

Which group of people are especially likely to express bias/hostility toward outgroups?

Newcomers, as they are uncertain of their acceptance and social standing in their group

(study)

4 types of religiosity (& their r/s with prejudice):

1. Extrinsic religiosity

2. Intrinsic religiosity

3. Fundamentalism religiosity

4. Quest religiosity

Extrinsic religiosity

An orientation that sees religion as a means of gaining friendship status, comfort or other valuable ends 

How do these people express prejudice?

They express more prejudice than non-religious people

Intrinsic religiosity

An orientation that sees religion as an end in itself, and people attempt to internalise religious teachings

How do these people express prejudice?

They present themselves as unprejudiced, but may exhibit discriminating behaviour if they think others are not watching

Fundamentalism religiosity

An orientation that sees religion as providing absolute truth

How do these people express prejudice?

(Same as extrinsic) They express more prejudice than non-religious people

Quest religiosity

An orientation that sees religion as a personal journey taken to understand complex spiritual and moral issues (vs. quick, simple answers)

How do these people express prejudice?

They are unprejudiced in word and in deed

What is the original hypothesis of negative stereotypes and prejudice?

That they are due to ignorance

How could they be reduced then?

Expose people to members of different groups

Limitation of this method

Such contact has not generally worked except when the 6 principles of effective group contact is applied

6 principles of effective group contact:

Contact is only effective when:

1. Outgroup members have traits & abilities challenging negative stereotypes 

2. Contact is supported by local authorities and norms

3. Contact is at individual level

4. Contact is rewarding for all

5. Groups are of equal status

6. Groups work toward common goals

The effect of working toward a common goal

Eg. jigsaw classroom: students in a mixed race group who are given different task for a class project are more likely to form cross-ethnicity f/s inside and outside classroom

+ (study)