Chapter 9 prejudice

Chapter 9 prejudice

Prejudice

• refers to negative attitudes or judgments about others based on their group membership, such as race, gender, or age.

• It's often formed without enough evidence or personal experience, influenced by stereotypes

What is the nature of prejudice?

• It’s usually automatic and unconscious, affecting how we see people even before we interact with them.

• It’s often learned from society or the people around us.

What is the power of prejudice?

• Prejudice can lead to discrimination, exclusion, & harm.

• It influences behaviour & decisions, even in ways we don't realise, and can shape social dynamics.

Example of prejudice

• In a school setting, children may be influenced by their families' views or the broader cultural environment to form prejudices against other racial or ethnic groups.

  • For instance, if a child’s family holds negative views about a certain ethnic group, the child is more likely to adopt those views.

• Social psychology helps us understand how group dynamics and societal influences shape these prejudices.

Theory of Jung - prejudice

attitude or idea will depend on cultural values

Gordon theory

ABC of prejudice

Affection, behaviour, cognitive

Social sources of prejudice

refer to the influences in society that help create and maintain prejudiced attitudes.

• Socialization

• Ingroup bias

• Social norms

• Media influence

Ingroup Bias

People favor their own group (the ingroup) & may develop prejudices against others (outgroups) to maintain a sense of superiority.

Socialization

People learn prejudiced views from family, peers, & culture, growing up in environments where stereotypes or discriminatory views are passed down.

Social Norms

• Society's standards or expectations may support prejudiced behavior.

• If prejudice is normalized in a community, individuals may adopt similar attitudes to fit in.

Media Influence

Stereotypical portrayals of certain groups in media (e.g., movies, news) can reinforce harmful ideas and biases.

scapegoat theory

• suggests that prejudice & discrimination arise when people blame an outgroup for their own problems or frustrations.

• By targeting a group as a "scapegoat," individuals can shift responsibility for their issues away from themselves or their own group.

Example for scapegoat theory

• If a country is facing an economic crisis, people might blame immigrants for taking jobs, even though they are not the actual cause of the problem.

• This can lead to discrimination against the immigrant group.

• Social psychology explores how scapegoating helps individuals cope with anxiety or failure by redirecting blame to others.

What are the motivational sources of prejudice?

• come from the internal desires or needs of individuals that lead them to develop biased or negative attitudes toward others.

• These motivations often serve to enhance personal self-esteem, power, or group identity.

• Ingroup favoritism

• Realistic conflict theory

• Authoritarian personality

• Scapegoat theory (Frustration can lead to anger and hostility, which people may take out on others who are easy targets (scapegoats) or directly on groups they see as rivals).

• realistic conflict theory

• social identity theory

realistic conflict theory

• suggests that prejudice and conflict arise when groups compete for limited resources, such as jobs, land, or power.

• This competition can lead to hostility, discrimination, & negative stereotypes of the other group.

Example related to Realistic conflict theory

• If two neighborhoods are fighting for a new school to be built in their area, they may develop negative attitudes toward each other, believing that the other group is a threat to their own community’s interests.

• Social psychology shows how competition for resources can fuel intergroup conflict and prejudice.

Self-Esteem & prejudice

• People may develop prejudices to boost their own self-worth by putting down others.

• By feeling superior to another group, individuals reinforce their own sense of value.

Ingroup Favoritism

• A strong desire to favor one's own group (the ingroup) can lead to prejudice against outgroups.

• This bias helps create a sense of belonging and solidarity within the ingroup, & can make people feel safer or more secure.

Authoritarian Personality

• Some individuals with rigid, hierarchical views may feel a need to assert dominance over those they see as "inferior."

• This need for control and order can fuel prejudice.

Realistic Conflict Theory

• When resources are scarce or there is competition between groups (e.g., for jobs, land, or status), prejudice can arise as a way to justify discrimination & protect one's own group’s interests.

What are the cognitive sources of prejudice?

• come from the way our brains process information.

• People often use shortcuts or mental categories to simplify the world, which can lead to biased thinking.

• stereotyping

• ingroup & outgroup thinking

• cognitive bias

Stereotyping

We group people into categories based on characteristics like race or gender, & assume everyone in that group has the same traits.

Ingroup/Outgroup Thinking

We see our own group as unique and positive (ingroup), while viewing other groups (outgroups) as all the same or negative.

Cognitive Bias

We tend to remember or focus on information that supports our existing beliefs, reinforcing prejudice.

Example of cognitive sources of prejudice

• If someone has a negative stereotype about a certain nationality, they might automatically assume that all people from that nationality are the same, without getting to know them as individuals.

• This cognitive shortcut leads to prejudice.

What are the consequences of prejudice?

Prejudice can have serious consequences for both individuals and society.

• Discrimination

• Psychological Impact

• Social Division

• Economic Inequality

Economic Inequality

Discriminatory practices based on prejudice can limit opportunities for certain groups, leading to lower income, fewer job opportunities, and economic disparity.

Social Division

Prejudice can create divisions between groups, leading to conflict, hostility, and less cooperation in society.

Psychological Impact

Victims of prejudice may experience stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, & depression due to being treated unfairly or negatively.

Discrimination

Prejudice often leads to unfair treatment of people based on their group membership, such as not hiring someone because of their race or gender.

Example of consequence of having prejudice

• In a workplace, if certain employees face prejudice, they might be denied promotions or opportunities, which can lower their motivation and impact their mental health.

• It also creates an unhealthy work environment where trust and teamwork suffer.

How can we reduce prejudice?

• Reducing prejudice requires efforts at both the individual and societal levels.

1. Education and Awareness - Learning about different cultures, histories, and experiences can challenge stereotypes and promote empathy. Education helps people understand the harmful effects of prejudice.

2. Promoting Equality - Ensuring equal opportunities and rights for everyone can reduce prejudice. When people see others as equals, they’re less likely to treat them unfairly.

3. Perspective-Taking - Encouraging people to put themselves in others' shoes can foster empathy and understanding, reducing negative attitudes toward different groups.

• if people are motivated to avoid prejudice, they can break the prejudice habit.

Prejudice

• is when someone has a negative opinion about a group of people, often without knowing them personally.

• It's based on stereotypes, which are oversimplified ideas about a group.

• These judgments can lead to unfair treatment and discrimination.

Example of Prejudice

• If a person believes that all teenagers are irresponsible, they might treat a teenager unfairly, assuming they're lazy or unreliable, even if that teenager is responsible.

• Social psychology helps us understand how these prejudices form and how they impact our behavior toward others.

stereotype

• is when we believe certain traits or characteristics are true for all members of a group, even though they might not be.

• These beliefs are often oversimplified and can be inaccurate, but they are hard to change, even when we get new information that contradicts them.

Example of stereotype

• If someone thinks all elderly people are bad at using technology, they might be surprised when they meet an older person who is tech-savvy.

• This shows how stereotypes can be inaccurate, but still influence how we judge others based on group membership.

• Social psychology studies how stereotypes affect our behavior and interactions.

Discrimination

• is when someone treats a person or group unfairly based on their characteristics, like race, gender, or age, without any good reason.

• It’s the behavioral side of prejudice, where negative beliefs lead to actions that harm others.

Example of Discrimination

• If an employer refuses to hire a qualified candidate simply because of their race, that’s discrimination.

• Social psychology helps us understand how prejudices can lead to this kind of unfair treatment, and how it can affect people's opportunities and well-being.

 dual attitude system

refers to the idea that people can hold two different attitudes toward the same thing:

1. one explicit (conscious and deliberate)

2. one implicit (unconscious and automatic)

• These attitudes might be in agreement or conflict with each other.

Example related to dual attitude system

• A person might consciously believe in equality and reject racism (explicit attitude) but may still have unconscious biases or stereotypes about certain groups (implicit attitude) that influence their behavior without them realizing.

• Social psychology studies how these conflicting attitudes can affect behavior and interactions

Gender Prejudice

• is when people hold negative attitudes or beliefs about individuals based on their gender.

• It often involves stereotypes about how men and women should behave or what roles they should fill in society, leading to unfair treatment or discrimination.

Social dominance orientation (SDO)

• is the belief that one's own group should have more power and control over other groups.

• People with a high SDO tend to favor hierarchical structures in society, where some groups are seen as superior and others as inferior.

Social dominance orientation (SDO) EXAMPLE

• A person with high social dominance orientation might believe that wealthy people should have more influence than poorer people, or that one race should have more rights than another.

• This belief leads to supporting systems that maintain inequality between groups.

• Social psychology studies how SDO can influence people's attitudes toward social hierarchies and discrimination.

authoritarian personality

• refers to individuals who are more likely to favor strict obedience to authority, follow traditional values, and show intolerance toward outgroups (groups they don’t belong to) or those perceived as lower in status.

• People with this personality tend to view the world as a place of order and hierarchy.

Example of authoritarian personality

• A person with an authoritarian personality might strongly support strict laws and punishments for those who break them, and they might have negative attitudes toward people from different cultures or social classes.

• Social psychology helps us understand how this mindset can contribute to prejudice and discrimination.

Realistic group conflict theory

• suggests that prejudice occurs when groups compete for limited resources, like jobs, land, or power.

• This competition can lead to conflict, hostility, and negative attitudes toward the other group

Example related to Realistic group conflict theory

• If two communities are competing for access to the same land or jobs, they might develop prejudice toward each other, seeing the other group as a threat.

• Social psychology shows how competition over resources can increase tension and fuel discrimination between groups.

Social identity

• is the part of our self-concept that comes from the groups we belong to, such as our nationality, religion, or social group.

• It's how we define ourselves based on our relationships to these groups.

example of Social identity

• If someone identifies strongly as a member of a sports team, their social identity might be tied to being a "team player" or a "fan of that team."

• This group membership helps shape how they see themselves and how they interact with others.

• Social psychology explores how our social identities influence behavior and attitudes toward people in other groups.

ingroup

• refers to a group of people with whom we share a sense of belonging or identity, often seeing them as "us."

• We feel connected to the members of this group because of shared interests, values, or characteristics.

outgroup

• is a group that people see as different or separate from their own group (the ingroup).

• We often view outgroup members as “them” and might not feel the same sense of connection or loyalty to them.

Social identity theory

• suggests that people define themselves based on their group memberships, like their race, religion, or sports team.

• This theory explains that we gain a sense of self-esteem and belonging from the groups we identify with (our ingroups).

• It also helps explain why people might feel prejudice toward outgroups, as they see their own group as superior.

Tajfel observed that (social identity theory)

• We categorize: We find it useful to put people, ourselves included, into categories. To label someone as a Hindu, a Scot, or a bus driver is a shorthand way of saying some other things about the person.

• We identify: We associate ourselves with certain groups (our ingroups) & gain self-esteem by doing so.

• We compare: We contrast our groups with other groups (outgroups), with a favorable bias toward our own group.

Example of Social identity theory

• If you strongly identify as a member of a particular university, you might feel pride and a sense of belonging when interacting with other students from the same school.

• However, this could also lead to negative attitudes toward students from rival universities, as they are seen as part of the outgroup.

• Social psychology uses this theory to explore how group membership influences behavior and attitudes.

Ingroup bias

• is the tendency to favor and prioritize members of our own group over those from other groups (outgroups).

• We often see our ingroup as superior and give them better treatment or more resources.

outgroup homogeneity effect

• is the tendency to see members of an outgroup as all alike, while recognizing the diversity within our own ingroup.

• This leads us to believe that "they" (the outgroup) are more similar to each other than "we" (the ingroup) are.

example of outgroup homogeneity effect

• If you're in a particular social club, you might see other members of your club as unique and varied, but you may view members of a rival club as all the same.

• Social psychology shows that this effect can contribute to stereotypes and prejudice, as it simplifies our understanding of groups, often leading to unfair generalizations.

Own-race bias

• also called the cross-race effect or other-race effect

• is the tendency for people to more easily recognize and remember faces of their own race compared to those of other races.

• This happens because we are exposed to faces from our own race more frequently, which improves our ability to distinguish between them.

Example of Own-race bias

• If a white person is shown a group of faces that includes people of various races, they may have a harder time remembering or recognizing faces of Black or Asian individuals, while being more accurate in recognizing other white faces.

• Social psychology explains this as a result of our familiarity with faces from our own racial group.

Group-serving bias

• is when we explain away positive behaviors of outgroup members (people not in our group) & instead attribute their negative behaviors to their character or personality.

• At the same time, we excuse or justify similar behaviors from our ingroup (our own group).

Example of Group-serving bias

• If a person from another team helps someone out, we might explain it as an exception, but if a member of our own team does something similar, we might say it’s because they are genuinely kind.

• However, if someone from the other team behaves badly, we might say it’s because they are rude or selfish, but we excuse bad behavior from our team members by blaming the situation.

• Social psychology shows how this bias helps protect our ingroup and maintain a positive view of it.

How self-enhancing idenities support stereotypes

just-world phenomenon

• is the belief that the world is fair, & that people generally get what they deserve.

• This can lead people to think that those who experience bad things must have done something to deserve it, while those who experience good things must have earned them.

example of the just-world phenomenon

• If someone is homeless, a person with the just-world belief might think, "they must have made poor choices to end up like that," instead of considering other factors like difficult circumstances or lack of opportunities.

• Social psychology shows how this belief can lead to victim-blaming and a lack of empathy for those facing hardships.

Subtyping

• is when we make exceptions to our stereotypes by categorizing individuals who don't fit the stereotype as "exceptions to the rule."

• Instead of changing the stereotype, we keep it but allow for a few individuals who don't match it.

Example of Subtyping

• If someone believes that all doctors are serious and professional, but they meet a doctor who is humorous and laid-back, they might think of that doctor as an "exception" rather than adjusting their stereotype of doctors.

• Social psychology shows how subtyping allows stereotypes to persist despite evidence that contradicts them.

Subgrouping

• is when we create a new stereotype for a smaller subset of a group when individuals deviate from our general stereotype.

• Instead of changing the original stereotype, we make a new subset for the exception.

Example of Subgrouping

• If someone believes that all athletes are tough and serious, but they meet a few athletes who are gentle and artistic, they might create a new stereotype for "artistic athletes" rather than changing the belief that all athletes are tough.

• Social psychology shows how subgrouping allows stereotypes to stay intact by creating new categories instead of revising old ones.

Stereotype threat

• occurs when someone is anxious about confirming a negative stereotype about their group, which can affect their performance or behavior.

• The fear of being judged based on this stereotype can create stress and disrupt their actions.

Example of Stereotype threat

• If a woman is aware of the stereotype that women are not as good at math, she might feel nervous taking a math test and underperform because of that anxiety.

• Social psychology studies how stereotype threat can negatively affect people’s performance, even when they are capable, simply due to the pressure of avoiding a stereotype.