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BRIDGING SOCIAL GAPS. Motivating people to work for diversity Presented by James Manuel, Psy.D. MILLWOOD HOSPITAL September 12 2014. Presentation Overview . Social Distance: Keeping us from a just society Measuring and predicting social distance How distance hurts us
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BRIDGING SOCIAL GAPS Motivating people to work for diversity Presented by James Manuel, Psy.D. MILLWOOD HOSPITAL September 12 2014
Presentation Overview • Social Distance: Keeping us from a just society • Measuring and predicting social distance • How distance hurts us • Why it matters to you • Tools for closing the gaps
BRIDGING SOCIAL GAPS INTRO TO SOCIAL DISTANCE definition • Social distance constitutes one element in a family of related concepts such as prejudice, stereotypes, and ethnocentrism. • Broadly defined, social distance refers to how close members of a group feel towards members of another group. It ranges from intimacy to remoteness and repugnance (Yuchtman-Yaar & Inbar, 1986).
History • When did this all begin? • Big Bang • Adam & Eve • Part of nature • Why does it persist? • Low motivation to change • Lack of discussion • How can we work to change things? • Reduce your contribution • Help raise awareness
Results from Social Distance studies • Different ethnic groups have different levels of power & privilege. • The dominant group sets standards for superiority and inferiority. • To increase status groups must increase their similarity to the culturally dominant group. • All groups consistently rank themselves higher than they are ranked by other groups.
To separate or come together… That is the question. • Is social distancing malicious or benign? • Is it good or bad? • Who gets hurt? VIDEO: Chappelle Show Black White Supremist
We can measure Social Distance POPULAR TESTS: Bogardus’ Scale & IAT • Tests measure our comfort in engaging in relationships with people from different social groups. • Bogardus Scale ex. Would you marry? Would you accept as a neighbor? Would you exclude from your country? • IAT: Example: http://www.understandingprejudice.org/iat/index2.htm
Prediction Models • Instrumental approach: • Based on interest and goals • Conflict model: • Based on domination, control, and subjugation • Resource-Dependency model: • Based on one group controlling valuable resources
3 WAYS TO GET ALONG • Three types of interactions: • Symmetrical (High / High) • Groups seek to maintain equally great social distances • Symmetrical (Low / Low) • Groups are mutually inclined toward closeness • Asymmetrical (High / Low) • One group seeks to increase social distance while the other tries to decrease it
CLASSIC EXAMPLE Social distance in Israeli-Arab conflict: A resource dependency analysis (Yuchtman-Yaar & Inbar, 1986). Results: Outcomes match predictions… - Israelis desire more distance from Palestinians, while Palestinians desire to be closer. - Egyptians are unwilling to have as close a relationship as the Israelis would like to have with them.
The Psychological Gap • How do we decide if someone is similar or different; near or far? • High construal = Abstract = Distal (far) • Low construal = Concrete = Proximal (near) • *Ex. Personal ambitions can be abstractly represented as “being someone” or more concretely as “being a successful playwright.” • *Ex. A person with average sight may abstractly view a speaker at their new job orientation who is blind as a disabled person, or more concretely as a knowledgeable professional. • Construal level is influenced by background and experiences, attitudes, mood and affect, cognitive ability, etc. The same object can be construed in many ways, at different levels of abstraction. Video: A Class Divided (Blue Eyes Brown Eyes)
Social Rejection of Persons with Disabilities • Cultural views about mental illness • More likely to be violent. • Less often perceived as potential friends (Gordon, Tantillo, Feldman, Perrone, 2004). • Social Interactions between those labeled as Mentally Retarded (MR) and those with “normal” cognitive functioning. • Workers without MR often have three times more interaction with coworkers also without MR than those with MR (Ferguson, McDonnell, and Drew, 1993).
Social Rejection of Persons with Disabilities (Cont’d) • Gordon’s study found that those who have had more contact with disability issues expressed similar discomfort as those without contact (Gordon, Tantillo, Feldman, Perrone, 2004). • In studies examining attitudes towards disabling conditions, mental retardation and mental illness have consistently been cited as the least socially accepted (Lyons and Hayes, 1993). • Video: Pumpkin (2002)
WHY DO YOU CARE? • Effects on Job Performance • Professional Conduct • Professional Relationships • Creating a Positive Work Environment
Suggestions for bridging the gaps • 1) Increase your awareness • 2) Re-evaluate your assumptions • 3) Be transformed by diverse groups • 4) Engage in an ongoing dialogue • 5) Be a lover of peace & justice
References • Amodio, D. M.., Devine, P.G. (2006). Stereotyping and evaluation in implicit race bias: Evidence for independent constructs and unique effects on behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 91, 652-661. • Bar-Anan, Y., Liberman, N., Trope, Y. (2006). The association between psychological distance and construal level: Evidence from an implicit association test. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. 135 (4), 609-622. • Case, K. A., Hemmings, A. (2005). Distancing strategies: White women preservice teachers and antiracist curriculum. Urban Education. 40 (6) 606-626. • Corrigan, P. W., Green, A., Lundin, R., Kubiak, M. A., Penn, D. L. (2001). Familiarity with and social distance from people who have serious mental illness. Psychiatric Services. 52 (7), 953-958. • Gordon, P. A., Tantillo, J. C., Feldman, D., Perrone, K. (2004). Attitudes regarding interpersonal relationships with persons with mental illness and mental retardation. Journal of Rehabilitation. 70 (1), 50-56.
References • Hodson, G., Esses, V. M. (2002). Distancing oneself from negative attributes and the personal/group discrimination discrepancy. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 38, 500-507. • Lauber, C., Nordt, C., Falcato, L., Rossler, W. (2004). Factors influencing social distance toward people with mental illness. Community Mental Health Journal. 40 (3), 265-274. • Swim, J. K., Ferguson, M. J., Hyers, L. L. (1999). Avoiding stigma by association: subtle prejudice against lesbians in the form of social distancing. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 21 (1), 61-68. • Triandis, H. C., Triandis, L., M. (1960). Race, social class, religion, and nationality as determinants of social distance. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology. 61 (1), 110-118. • Yuchtman-Yaar, E., Inbar, M. (1986). Social distance in the Israeli- Arab conflict a resource-dependency analysis. Comparative Political Studies, 19 (3), 283-316.