Unit 9: Social Psychology - Bias, Prejudice, and Discrimination

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers key concepts in social psychology including individual biases, group dynamics, prejudice, and theories of attraction as presented in the Unit 9 lecture notes.

Bias

The least intense and most subtle evaluation that does not have to be based on identity (unchangeable attributes) and can harm people both with and without privilege.

Stereotypes

Assumed similarities in a group used to label them as "different," occurring when bias becomes more organized and harmful within in-group/out-group dynamics.

Prejudice

The systemic pre-judging of a person facing oppression based on their identity; it is often subconscious or subtle and actively harms or disadvantages the individual.

Discrimination

A systemic phenomenon where prejudices organize to create unfair outcomes for oppressed identities, often visible in statistics regarding organizations or systems.

Ethnocentrism

The perception that one's own culture does things the "right" way and that other cultures are strange, illogical, less important, or "backward."

Out-group homogeneity bias

The tendency for people to stereotype members of an out-group as "all" being the same way or thinking in the same way.

Mere-exposure effect

The phenomenon where people develop warmer feelings toward individuals or groups they see more often, which can lead to a lessening of deeply felt hate.

Scapegoat theory

A theory suggesting that stereotyped out-groups are used by people in power as targets to explain why problems exist, such as the scapegoating of Jewish people for the German economy.

Aggression

A behavior for which testosterone is considered the primary hormone.

Evolutionary perspective on attraction (Women)

The view that women are considered more attractive if they appear more capable of reproduction, specifically indicated by a high hip-to-waist ratio.

Evolutionary perspective on attraction (Men)

The view that men are considered more attractive if they appear able to protect, typically characterized as being tall with big muscles.

Similarity and attraction

The principle that people are more likely to have lasting partners who have a lot in common with them, suggesting that the idea "opposites attract" is usually wrong.

Cognitive dissonance

A concept relating to internal struggle regarding a decision where one's actions or choices may conflict with existing feelings or relationships.

2016 Resume Study (White Names)

A study where resumes with white-signaling names received a $25\%$ interview rate.

2016 Resume Study (Black Names)

A study where resumes with Black-signaling names received a $10\%$ interview rate.