AP Psych Unit 4 | Prejudice & Discrimination

stereotype

a generalized belief about a particular category of people, often oversimplified and not based on direct experience

confirmation bias

a tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one’s pre-existing beliefs/hypotheses

belief perserverance

the tendency to hold onto one’s initial beliefs even after they have been proven wrong, often ignoring contradictory evidence

self-fulfilling prophecy

when a belief about a situation or a person leads to actions that make the belief come true

prejudice

an unjustifiable and usually negative attitude toward a group and its members

• generally involves negative emotions, stereotyped beliefs, and a predisposition to discriminatory action

discrimination

unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group or its members

implicit attitudes

unconscious beliefs or feelings that influence a person’s behavior and perceptions without their awareness

just-world phenomenon

a belief that the world is fundamentally fair

• leads people to rationalize injustice or misfortune as deserved

out-group homogeneity bias

the tendency to see members of an outside group as more similar to each other than they really are

• one often perceives those outside as less varied than members of one’s own group

in-group bias

the tendency to favor and extend loyalty to members of one’s own group over those in other groups

• often leads to preferential treatment and judgment

mere exposure effect

the phenomenon where repeated exposure to a stimulus increases an individual’s preference for that stimulus

ethnocentrism

the belief in the inherent superiority of one’s own ethnic group or culture

• often accompanied by a feeling of contempt for other groups

collectivism

the cultural value of putting group or community over individual goals and desires

• prioritizes group cohesion and interdependence

multiculturalism

the view that promotes the acknowledgment and respect of diverse cultural backgrounds and traditions

• encourages the coexistence and value of various cultural identities within a society

superordinate goals

shared goals that require cooperation among individuals or groups

• typically places group above smaller or individual conflicts

• fosters community efforts

social traps

situations in which individuals or groups pursue immediate rewards that later prove to have negative consequences for the larger community