Paradigms


  • Definition: Paradigms are shared beliefs that a person or group possesses, which shape their worldview.

American Culture Values

  • Key values in American culture include:

    • Dignity

    • Consent to govern

    • Due process

    • and others

  • Contradictions: America's behavior often contradicts its stated values.

  • Learning Values: Values are taught by close relationships and environments.

Role Models

  • Definitions of Role Models:

    • Teachers: Educators who play a significant role in shaping values.

    • Parents: Primary source of value education in a child's life.

    • Friends: Influence of peers in shaping beliefs and values.

    • Family: Overall familial influence on imparting values.

Ways to Teach Values

  1. Rules & Regulations: Establishing guidelines for behavior.

  2. Appeal to Conscience: Encouraging moral reasoning.

  3. Persuasive Techniques: Utilizing effective communication to influence values.

  4. Narrow Choices: Limiting options to guide decision-making.

  5. Inspiring People: Motivating individuals through positive influence.

  6. Religion: Using religious teachings to instill values.

Levels of Indoctrination

  • Indoctrination: The process of purposefully teaching values by selecting what and how they are imparted.

Commonly Confused Concepts

Terminology

  • Attitude: A cluster of beliefs, values, and opinions.

  • Beliefs: Inferences made about reality.

  • Values: A combination of attitudes that generate action or inaction.

Types of Bias

  • Bias: A preference that affects impartiality or judgment.

  • Prejudice: A negative attitude directed towards a group.

Confirmation Bias

  • Definition: The tendency to favor information that confirms pre-existing beliefs.

  • Types of Bias Influences:

    • Family: Familial assertions are often accepted as factual.

    • Attractiveness: Information from attractive individuals is given more weight.

    • Confirmation: Information that reinforces beliefs is prioritized.

    • Self-Serving: Favorable to individual benefits.

    • In-group: Validation from friends leads to acceptance.

    • Expectancy: Actively looking for information that reinforces existing beliefs.

    • Pleasure: Strengthening beliefs that are pleasurable.

    • Perceptual: Adhering to one's own views.

    • Perseverance: Sticking to beliefs despite contrary evidence.

    • Uncertainty: Choosing to believe or disbelieve to avoid discomfort.

Stereotyping and Bigotry

  • Stereotype: Traits associated with a specific group.

  • Bigotry: An extreme negative attitude leading to hatred.

  • Derisive Labels: Names or terms that express contempt or ridicule (e.g., slurs).

Discrimination vs. Prejudice

  • Discrimination: Actions that have a negative impact on a minority group.

  • Diversity: The presence of human differences; a factual state.

  • Minority Group: A group with less power compared to the dominant group.

Identity Concepts

  • Ethnicity: A cultural heritage and national origin.

  • Nationality: Citizenship representation in a nation.

  • Race: A social concept based on physical traits without a scientific basis (a social construct).

Perspectives on Social Problems

  • Exceptionalistic: Viewing problems as individual or unique.

  • Universalistic: Recognizing problems as systemic and predictable.

  • Institutional Action: Necessary measures for addressing universalistic issues.

Indoctrination and Dogma

  • Indoctrination: The act of forcing the acceptance of beliefs.

  • Dogmatic: Holding beliefs without questioning them.

  • Dogma: A systematic set of beliefs.

Continuation of Prejudice

  • Rationalization: Justifications that support prejudicial beliefs.

    • Denial: Refusing to accept prejudicial perspectives.

    • Victim Blaming: Attributing fault to the victim instead of the system.

    • Avoidance: Steering clear of confrontational issues related to prejudice.

  • Other Factors:

    • Personal Frustration: Individual feelings that feed prejudice.

    • Ignorance: Lack of knowledge supporting prejudicial views.

    • Threat to Self-Esteem: Prejudices stemming from insecurity.

    • Competition in Society: Societal rivalry fostering prejudicial attitudes.

    • Racial Profiling: Discriminatory practice based on race.