PSY 335 Exam 3

Stereotypes (Cognitive)

overgeneralization about a group of people, where certain traits are assigned to all group measures or characteristics, regardless of individual variation. These cognitive shortcuts can lead to assumptions and biases in judgment.

Prejudice (affective)

Hostile or negative attitude towards a group of people based on their membership.

Discrimination (behavioral)

Differential treatment is perpetrated against a group of people based on their membership.

stereotype content model

A psychological theory that posits individuals categorize others based on two dimensions: warmth and competence, leading to four stereotypes related to these dimensions.

Groups with high status→high Competence

Groups with low status → low warmth

personal experience

Influences individual perspectives and attitudes based on direct interactions or events, impacting their views on different groups or situations.

Social learning

stereotypes are not always formed through direct experience. Parents, teachers, peers, and the media “teach” us about group differences

illusory correlation

A cognitive bias where people perceive a relationship between two events or variables that are not actually correlated, often leading to the reinforcement of stereotypes.

study of muslims and stereotype formation

The result was that those who were shown videos of negative stereotypes of muslims were more likely to support negative stereotypes of muslims compared to those who were shown counter-stereotypical or neutral videos of muslims.

subtyping

A cognitive process where individuals categorize people who do not fit a stereotype into a separate subgroup, thus maintaining the original stereotype.

confirmation bias

seeking, interpreting, and remembering information that supports existing beliefs. It leads individuals to ignore contradictory evidence and reinforces their preconceptions.

hostile sexism

A form of prejudice that encompasses negative attitudes and beliefs towards women, often reflecting views that women are inferior or unworthy of respect. It can manifest in derogatory comments and discriminatory practices. “most women fail to appreciate all that men do for them”

Benevolent sexism

A form of prejudice that involves protective attitudes towards women, often seen as chivalrous or paternalistic, suggesting that women need to be taken care of and are deserving of special treatment. This can reinforce traditional gender roles and imply that women are weaker or less capable. It portrays women as needing men's help or support, fostering dependence rather than equality.

traditional prejudice

Refers to long-held, negative attitudes and beliefs towards certain groups, often based on stereotypes and social norms. This form of prejudice can lead to discrimination and social exclusion of those deemed different or inferior. e.g Hostile sexism

modern prejudice

A form of prejudice that is more subtle and often rationalized, reflecting an aversion to diversity while purportedly supporting equality. It includes attitudes that deny the existence of systemic discrimination or suggest that groups should not receive special treatment, often masking underlying biases. e.g. benevolent sexism

Blatant racism

A form of racism that is overt and explicit, characterized by openly discriminatory beliefs and actions against particular racial or ethnic groups. This type of racism is often visible and clear in its expression, such as hate speech or racial slurs.

modern racism

An evolved form of prejudice that expresses itself in less overt ways than traditional racism, often characterized by a denial of its existence and a resistance to policies aimed at promoting equality. It may include subtle behaviors and attitudes that reinforce racial stereotypes without explicit hostility.

Study on modern racism and helping behavior

cover story was sending and recieving ESP messages, all the participants were white women who were led to believe they were part of a study on telepathy. The study aimed to investigate whether participants' racial biases influenced their willingness to help a Black or White person in distress when they were alone or in a group of people.

dual process model of intergroup relations

A theoretical framework explaining how individuals process information and make decisions about intergroup interactions through two distinct cognitive pathways: the automatic, intuitive system (negative stereotypes, prejudice) and the controlled, deliberate system (Positive verbal behavior in intergroup interactions). This model suggests that both systems influence attitudes and behaviors towards different social groups.

microaggression

Brief, everyday exchanges that send denigrating messages to those who belong to a minoritized group.

stereotype threat

The fear of confirming negative stereotypes about one's social group, which can negatively impact performance and behavior in various situations, especially in academic or achievement contexts.

discounting

A cognitive process where individuals downplay or disregard valid information about a group in favor of preconceived notions, often reinforcing stereotypes and biases.

underperformance

Refers to achieving less than one's potential or capabilities, often influenced by factors such as anxiety, lack of confidence, or external pressures, including stereotype threat.

illusory correlation

A cognitive bias where individuals perceive a relationship between two variables even when none exists, often leading to the reinforcement of stereotypes.

evolution

categorization→outgroup→threat= intergroup conflict

social identity theory

A theory that posits an individual’s self-concept is derived from their group memberships, leading to in-group favoritism and out-group discrimination.

ingroup favoritism

A phenomenon where individuals show preferential treatment and positive bias toward members of their own group, often leading to discrimination against outgroup members.

outgroup derogation

The tendency to hold negative attitudes and stereotypes about members of an outgroup, often resulting in discriminatory behavior against them.

realistic group conflict theory

A theory that suggests intergroup conflict arises when groups compete for limited resources, leading to increased hostility towards outgroup members.

robber’s cave experiment

A psychological study conducted by Muzafer Sherif in the 1950s that demonstrated how intergroup conflict can arise from competition for resources and how cooperation can reduce hostilities.

study on intergroup conflict

part 1: intelligence test

participants completes intelligence test, given bogus positive or negative performance feedback, completed self-esteem measure.

Part 2: social evaluation

job candidate depicted as either Jewish-American or Italian-American. Participants rated the job candidate and completed another self-esteem measure. Participants who were threatened rated the Jewish candidate more negatively than did other participants.

stereotype suppression

A psychological process in which individuals consciously try to avoid or reduce the expression of stereotype-based thoughts and behaviors, often leading to ironic consequences. not effective

perspective talking

A strategy used to reduce prejudice and improve intergroup relations by encouraging individuals to empathize and understand the experiences and feelings of others, particularly those from different social or cultural backgrounds. more effective than suppression, no rebound effect.

contact hypothesis

A theory suggesting that increased contact between groups can reduce prejudice and improve intergroup relations, particularly when certain conditions are met, such as equal status, common goals, and cooperation.

positive contact

A form of interaction between individuals from different groups that is characterized by mutual respect and understanding, promoting positive attitudes and reducing prejudice. It enhances intergroup relations and fosters social harmony.

decategorization/personalization

A process in which individuals are encouraged to focus on personal identities rather than group memberships, leading to reduced bias and improved relationships between different social groups.

outgroup homogeneity effect

The tendency to perceive members of an outgroup as more similar to each other than members of one's own group, leading to stereotyping and reduced understanding of the outgroup's diversity.

common ingroup identity

A psychological concept that encourages individuals from different groups to see themselves as part of a larger, shared group identity, thereby reducing intergroup bias and promoting cooperation.