Prejudice and Stereotyping

Definitions

• Prejudice: An unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason.

• Stereotyping: An oversimplified idea or image applied to a category of people; can lead to misconceptions.

Types of Prejudice

• Individual: Prejudice against a single person based on characteristics.

• Group: Prejudice against a group of individuals based on race, gender, etc.

Sources of Prejudice

• Socialization: Learned attitudes from family, culture, and society.

• Media: Representation (or lack thereof) can create and perpetuate stereotypes.

• Fear of the unknown: Lack of exposure to groups different from oneself.

Consequences of Prejudice and Stereotyping

• Impact on mental health: Stress and anxiety from societal expectations.

• Academic achievement: Stereotype threat affecting performance in educational settings.

• Social segmentation: Divisions between different groups leading to conflict, loss of collaboration.

How to Reduce/Avoid/Mitigate

• Promote positive interactions between groups (Contact Hypothesis).

• Emphasize individual identity rather than group identity.

• Implement training and awareness programs to address biases.

Stereotypes and Performance

Effect of Stereotypes on Tasks

• Being negatively stereotyped can impair performance: Anxiety and self-doubt may arise when one feels they are being judged based on a stereotype.

Stereotype Threat and Academic Achievement

Definition

• Stereotype Threat: Fear of confirming negative stereotypes about one's group, leading to decreases in performance.

Impact on Academic Achievement

• Creates a divide wherein individuals may dismiss their relevance in an academic domain, thus lowering their self-esteem and identity.

Steele & Aronson (1995) Study

Participants

• Stanford students of African-American and European-American descent.

Methodology

• Made racial stereotypes salient by using diagnostic vs. non-diagnostic tests to examine performance differences in challenging verbal tasks.

Results

• Notable performance disparities were observed when stereotypes were activated.

Stereotype Vulnerability in Women’s Math Performance

• Research shows that stereotype threats can negatively impact women in domains like mathematics, particularly due to societal biases.

Diversity of Stereotype Threats

• Affects any group with strong negative stereotypes.

• Individuals need not believe in the stereotype for it to influence performance.

Mechanisms of Stereotype Threat

How does it undermine performance?

• Stress can impair cognitive function and brain activity.

• Worrying disrupts focused attention and increases errors.

• Energy spent on suppressing thoughts can degrade working memory.

Positive Stereotypes

• Positive stereotypes can also enhance performance, showing the duality of stereotype impacts.

Stereotypes and Multiple Identities

• Individuals possess multiple identities (e.g., gender, ethnicity) that can interact with stereotypes in context.

Shih, Pittinsky, & Ambady (1999) Study

Experiment Details

• IV: Reminded participants of their Asian identity or woman identity to examine changes in math performance.

• DV: Performance in math tests varying based on identity activation.

Findings

• Performance fluctuated depending on which identity was emphasized beforehand.

Stereotype Threat Reduction Strategies

Potential Solutions

• Deemphasizing the stereotyped identity prior to tasks.

• Reframing the task as non-diagnostic to lessen pressure.

• Reinforcing self-affirmation and belongingness.

The Contact Hypothesis

Core Idea

• Interaction between different group members can reduce prejudice under certain conditions.

Conditions for Success

• Equal status between groups.

• A shared goal that necessitates cooperation.

Robbers Cave Study (Sherif et al., 1961)

Overview

• Created hostility between two equal-status groups through competition.

• Attempted to reduce conflict through cooperative tasks but saw initial resistance.

Outcomes

• Gradual decline in hostility occurred through shared challenges; long histories of animosity can complicate outcomes.

Evidence that Contact Works

Research Findings

• Field studies show reduced prejudice in environments with intergroup interactions and friendships.

• Meta-analysis confirmed effectiveness across various studies and highlighted necessary factors for success.

Challenges

• Biases can lead to misinterpretation of behavior even in positive contact scenarios.

Overcoming "The Prejudice Habit"

• Addressing unconscious biases requires intentional efforts and effective interventions.

Questions to Consider

Reflection Points

• Awareness of unconscious bias: What self-reflective practices or training can help?

• Strategies to mitigate biases during decision-making processes, such as hiring.