Intro to Human Diversity Exam 1

Diversity

The presence of differences among people in race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and other characteristics.

5 dimensions of Diversity

Social identity, demographic characteristics, experiential factors, abilities/disabilities, and values/beliefs.

Melting Pot

Different cultures blend into a single, homogeneous society.

Multiculturalism

Different cultures coexist while maintaining their unique identities.

Colorblindness

Ignoring racial or cultural differences to focus on commonalities.

University of California V. Bakke

A 1978 Supreme Court case that ruled racial quotas in college admissions unconstitutional but allowed race to be a factor in admissions decisions.

Weight

Weight bias leads to stereotypes, discrimination, and unequal treatment in areas like employment and healthcare.

Age

Age discrimination can lead to stereotypes about older or younger individuals in the workplace and society

Race

Race is a socially constructed category that influences identity, opportunities, and experiences due to systemic inequalities.

Sexual Orientation

A person’s emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction to others, such as heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual orientations.

Social Justice Issues

Topics related to fairness and equity, such as discrimination, systemic racism, LGBTQ+ rights, and economic inequality.

Primary Social Category

A social identity characteristic (e.g., race, gender, age) that people notice quickly when interacting with others.

Stereotype

A generalized belief about a group of people

Just World Belief

The assumption that people get what they deserve, which can lead to victim-blaming.

Amygdala

Processes fear and quick emotional reactions to stereotypes.

Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC)

Regulates rational thinking and suppresses biased responses.

Ingroup

A group a person identifies with.

outgroup

A group a person perceives as different or separate from their own.

Subtyping

Creating an exception within a stereotype

Cultural Stereotypes

Widely held but oversimplified beliefs about a particular culture or group.

Solo Status

Being the only representative of a social group in a setting, leading to increased scrutiny and pressure.

Illusory Correlation

Perceiving a relationship between two things when no real connection exists

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

When expectations about a person or group lead them to behave in ways that confirm those expectations.

Rosenthal and Lawson Study

The power of expectancy effects; teachers’ expectations influenced students’ performance (Pygmalion effect).This study demonstrated that higher expectations from teachers can lead to improved student outcomes, showcasing the impact of belief on performance.

Perceptual Bias

The tendency to perceive information in a way that conforms to one’s existing beliefs.

Negation Bias

Using negation (e.g., "He is not dumb") when describing outgroup members but not for ingroup members. This bias leads to more negative interpretations of outgroup behavior compared to ingroup behavior, often reinforcing stereotypes.

Stereotype Consistency Bias

The tendency to recall stereotype-consistent information more easily than inconsistent information.

Accurate Assessment

The ability to form unbiased, fact-based judgments about others.

Synergistic Accumulation

The way small biases and stereotypes build up over time, reinforcing discrimination.