Stereotype formation

Studies

Hamilton and Gifford (1976) Terms to define

• Stereotype

• Illusory correlation

Hamilton and Gifford (1976) Aim

To investigate illusory correlation as an explanation for stereotype formation

Hamilton and Gifford (1976) Procedure

• 70 American undergraduates

• Participants were shown a series of slides, each of them had a statement about a member of one of two groups (Group A, Group B) The statements in the slides were either negative or positive (each group had the same proportion of negative and positive statements)

• Group A had twice as many people (26) than group B (13), therefore group B was the minority group

• The participants were told that group B was smaller than group A before starting the experiment

• Then they were asked to rank the members of each group on a series of 20 traits (e.x. popular, intelligent, social)

• They were given a booklet in wich there was a statement and they were asked whether the person who’s the statement was from, was from group A or group B

• They were asked how many of the statements for each group had been ‘undesirable’ or ‘negative’

• Half of both groups changed the order of measuring the dependent variable (the booklet was completed before the trait rankings) this to avoid interference effects (the order of the tasks dont affect the results)

Hamilton and Gifford (1976) Results

• On the trait rankings, group A was ranked higher than group B for having positive traits and lower for negative traits

• In the booklet, participants correctly recalled more positive statements/traits for group A, and more negative traits for group B

• Participants overestimated the number of negative traits in the minority group (group B) (this finding was not very significant)

Hamilton and Gifford (1976) Evaluation

• The researchers argue that because the minority group (group B) was smaller in number, their negative behaviors (statements/traits) appeared to be more obvious, stand out and to be representative of the group

• This demonstartes why negative stereotypes may be more common for minority groups than for the majority

Tajfel (1971) Terms to define

• Stereotype

• Social identity theory

• Explain how social comparison leads to stereotypes

Tajfel (1971) Aim

To investigate the minimal conditions under which discrimination between social groups could be brough about

Tajfel (1971) Procedure

• 48 school boys

• Shown a series of slides with unlablelled abstract paintings

• Told they were by Kandinsky and Klee and asked to express their preferences for one or the other based on the slides

• Randomly allocated to one of two groups the 'Klee group' or 'Kandinsky group'

• Asked to allocate anonymous points, where there were three options, 1. allocate more points to the other group so they had an advantage, 2. Allocate the same amount of points for both groups, 3. allocate more points to own group to have an advantage

Tajfel (1971) Results

• When they had the option between maximizing the profit for all and maximising the profit for their own group the chose the second option

• They were found to be more concerned with creating a large difference between both groups (in favour of their own group) than having the greater amount of points than the other group

Tajfel (1971) Evaluation

• This is evidence of very obvious discrimination associated with the categorization of the boys into apparently meaningless social groups

• Forms the basis of Tajfel's minimal group paradigm

Stereotype formation and studies general evaluation

• Difficult to observe steroetype formation in real-time

• Studies lack ecological validity

• Ethical considerations in inducing stereotypes

• Difficult to know from laboratory studies, the long-term effects of creating sterotypes