Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Discrimination

Flashcards covering key concepts related to stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination.

Stereotyping

Overgeneralized beliefs about the traits of an individual based on features that indicate group membership.

Prejudice

A negative attitude toward an individual based solely on their presumed membership in a particular group.

Discrimination

Negative behavior directed toward an individual based on their presumed membership in a particular group.

Empirical social psychology

The branch of psychology that examines prejudice as unjustifiable and involves negative judgments independent of actual attributes.

Intergroup contact ingredients (Allport, 1954)

Conditions for optimal intergroup contact include equal status between groups, intimate and varied contact, and cooperation toward a common goal.

Cognitive heuristics

Mental shortcuts or rules of thumb that simplify decision making, often leading to stereotyping.

Self-esteem boost

The psychological benefit gained from holding prejudiced views, often leading to the persistence of prejudice.

Variation in groups

The recognition that there is tremendous diversity within any group, leading to errors in assumptions about all members.