Reducing prejudice and discrimination

What does awareness of bias not guarantee?

Behavior change

At what levels does bias operate?

Multiple levels, not just conscious beliefs

What can attempts to reduce bias sometimes do?

Backfire

What are the two types of processing in bias control?

Automatic and Controlled Processing

What characterizes automatic processes?

Stereotypes activate quickly and unintentionally

What do controlled processes involve?

Beliefs, values, and intentions

What is a common conflict in bias control?

Automatic biased thoughts versus values of equality

What reduces the ability to control bias?

Cognitive load (stress, multitasking, real-world demands)

What is required to control bias effectively?

Effort and motivation

What is the suppression strategy in bias control?

Trying to suppress biased thoughts

What problem does the suppression strategy create?

It requires constant monitoring and can lead to a rebound effect

What is the 'White bear problem'?

Trying not to think about something makes it more persistent

What is cognitive dissonance?

Discomfort when beliefs are challenged

What can lead to defensive processing?

Identity threat and rejecting conflicting information

What is psychological reactance?

Resistance to persuasion when freedom is perceived as threatened

What conditions must be met for intergroup contact to reduce prejudice?

Equal status, common goals, intergroup cooperation, support from authorities

What did the meta-analysis by Pettigrew & Tropp (2006) find about intergroup contact?

It reliably reduces prejudice

How does intergroup contact work to reduce prejudice?

By reducing anxiety, increasing empathy, and promoting individuation

What is extended contact in reducing prejudice?

Knowing someone who has a friend in an outgroup

What is imagined contact?

Mentally simulating a positive interaction with an outgroup member

What is the Common Ingroup Identity Model?

Shifting from 'Us vs. Them' to 'We' by redefining group boundaries

What role do institutions play in shaping group boundaries?

They define who belongs to which group and can reinforce division or expand inclusion

What is a paradoxical intervention?

Using paradoxical thinking to reflect or exaggerate the logic behind beliefs

What are the common ways to reduce prejudice?

Changing thoughts and feelings, interactions, group definitions, norms, and environments

What does it mean that bias operates at multiple levels?

Bias exists at automatic (implicit), controlled (explicit), and structural/institutional levels.

Why doesn't awareness of bias lead to behavior change?

Because automatic processes operate independently of conscious intentions.

What creates conflict in prejudice regulation?

Mismatch between automatic stereotypes and controlled values.

Why is bias more likely under real-world conditions?

Because cognitive load (stress, multitasking) weakens controlled processing.

When are people most likely to rely on stereotypes?

When tired, stressed, distracted, or under time pressure.

Why does suppression require monitoring?

You must constantly check whether the unwanted thought is occurring.

What paradox occurs during suppression?

Monitoring keeps the unwanted thought mentally active.

What happens after suppression ends?

Increased accessibility of the stereotype (rebound effect).

Why is identity threat powerful in prejudice?

Because beliefs are tied to moral identity and self-worth.

How does defensive processing maintain prejudice?

By dismissing evidence that contradicts existing beliefs.

What is an example of defensive processing?

'That study is biased' instead of reconsidering beliefs.

What triggers psychological reactance?

Feeling pressured, controlled, or forced to change beliefs.

Why can anti-prejudice messaging fail?

It can threaten autonomy and trigger reactance.

Are Allport's conditions required for contact to work?

No—contact still reduces prejudice even without perfect conditions.

What does the correlation r = -0.21 indicate?

A reliable negative relationship between contact and prejudice.

What types of groups benefit from contact?

Many different groups (broad generalizability).

Why does reduced anxiety matter in contact?

Anxiety fuels avoidance and stereotyping.

What is individuation?

Seeing someone as a unique individual rather than a group member.

Why is empathy important in reducing prejudice?

It increases understanding and emotional connection.

Why does extended contact change norms?

It signals that intergroup friendships are acceptable.

Why is extended contact powerful?

It reduces prejudice without direct interaction.

Why does imagined contact work?

It mentally rehearses positive interactions and reduces uncertainty.

Why are its effects weaker?

Lack of real interaction and dependence on imagination quality.

What is the goal of redefining group boundaries?

To eliminate 'us vs them' distinctions.

What is an example of a superordinate identity?

'We are all students' instead of different social groups.

Why are institutions important in this model?

They shape how group identities are defined and perceived.

How can media influence prejudice?

By reinforcing stereotypes or promoting inclusive identities.

How can schools reduce prejudice?

By encouraging cooperation and shared identities.

What role does policy play?

It can either enforce division or promote equality and inclusion.

Why might direct arguments fail?

They trigger defensiveness and reactance.

How does paradoxical thinking work?

It lets individuals recognize flaws in their own beliefs.

What is the advantage of this approach?

Reduces resistance because change feels self-generated.

Why are social norms so powerful?

People conform to what they perceive as socially acceptable.

Why is contact consistently effective?

It directly changes experiences and perceptions.

Why is cognitive retraining limited?

Effects often don't last over time.

Why do many interventions fail long-term?

They don't address automatic processes, identity, and social context simultaneously.

What combination is most effective for reducing prejudice?

Changing norms, increasing contact, redefining group identity.

What is the key takeaway about reducing prejudice?

It requires multi-level change (individual, interactional, and societal).