Psych 239-Bias and Inclusivity

Attitude

An evaluation of an object that summarizes cognitive, affective, and behavioral information.

Components of an attitude

Includes evaluative aspects (positively or negatively defined), an object of focus (directed towards a target), serves as a summary of various components, and is typically discussed in terms of valence and strength.

A, B, Cs

The three components of attitudes: Affect (feelings), Behavior (actions), Cognition (thoughts).

Functions of attitudes

Attitudes serve functional roles including object appraisals, social adaptations, and value expression externalizing.

Explicit attitudes

Deliberate, conscious attitudes that are formed through reasoning and careful consideration.

Implicit attitudes

Automatic, unconscious attitudes that are often formed through associations and can operate without the awareness of the individual.

Dual-Process models

Theoretical frameworks distinguishing between explicit (deliberate) and implicit (automatic) attitudes.

Evaluative conditioning

A process in which an emotional response is transferred to an attitude object due to a repeated association.

Stereotypes

Generalizations about a particular group that may or may not contain a kernel of truth, often leading to prejudice and discrimination.

Prejudice

A negative evaluative reaction towards a certain group and its members.

Discrimination

Unfair treatment of an individual based solely on their group membership.

Social Dominance Orientation (SDO)

A preference for hierarchical relationships between social groups and support for inequality.

Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA)

An ideology characterized by a high demand for obedience to authority and a readiness to aggress on behalf of authority.

System Justification

The motivation to defend and justify the status quo, often leading to endorsing existing social hierarchies.

Stereotype threat

The risk of confirming negative stereotypes about an individual’s social group, which can adversely affect performance.

Revisionism of prejudice

The tendency to reinterpret or downplay the implications and existence of stereotypes and prejudice in contemporary society.

Colorblindness in race discussions

An approach that ignores racial differences and promotes the idea of treating everyone equally without acknowledging systemic inequalities.

Intersectionality

The complex and cumulative way in which multiple forms of discrimination (based on race, gender, etc.) interact, influencing experiences of advantage or disadvantage.

MOSAIC Model

A theoretical model describing how multiple demographic identities interact to shape bias and discrimination.

Double jeopardy

The compounded disadvantage experienced by individuals with multiple marginalized identities.

Cognitive categorization

The mental process of organizing and simplifying the social world by assigning individuals to categories.