Understanding Prejudice: Theories, Research, and Types of Discrimination

1. Prejudice Theories and research

2. Definitions (from previous lecture) • Stereotypes Specific traits attributed to people based on group membership (stereotypes are protypes!) • Prejudice (opposite of allophilia) Negative attitudes toward the members of a specific group • Discrimination Negative behaviors directed toward members of a specific group

3. Types of prejudice • Discrimination can be institutional or interpersonal, but prejudice is always interpersonal • Prejudice has two components • Emotional (how you feel about a group) • Cognitive (what you think about a group) especially the group’s intent and competence to pursue it • Prejudice has many targets • Racism • Linguicism • Ageism • Religious intolerance • Heterosexism • Political intolerance • Classism • Ableism • Sexism

4. Racial Intergroup Relations Declining

5. Four types of outgroups

6. Perception of outgroups (measures) As viewed by society, how _________ are members of this group? Competent Confident Independent Competetive Intelligent As viewed by society, how __________ are members of this group? Tolerant Warm Good natured Sincere Fiske et al., 2002, JPSP, 82, 878-902

7. Perception of outgroups Student sample Allophilia Paternalistic prejudice Contemptuous prejudice Envious prejudice Fiske et al., 2002, JPSP, 82, 878-902

8. Perception of outgroups Student sample Fiske et al., 2002, JPSP, 82, 878-902 Community sample in Amherst, MA

9. Perceptions of outgroups

10. Theories of prejudice (realistic conflict) • Realistic Conflict Theory (Sherif, 1961) • Process • We compete over scarce resources • During competition, the “other” is considered an enemy to justify trying to “win” • Enemy is then dehumanized and scapegoated • Evidence • 1958 Southern State lynching study • Sherif’s Robber’s Cave study (next 3 slides) • Some limitations • Doesn’t explain why there is no inter-occupation conflict • Doesn’t explain why prejudice occurs when there is little competition

11. Robbers Cave Experiment

12. Robbers Cave Study Stage 1: In-group formation

13. Robbers Cave Study Stage 2: Group competition

14. Robbers Cave Study Stage 3: In-group formation

15. Even the Well-Intentioned Have Bias Fiske (2002) - in Western cultures: • about 10% of individuals show blatant racism • about 80% show subtle racial biases • avoidance of interactions • withholding of liking, respect, positive emotions • awkwardness • slips of the tongue • stereotypic assumptions and judgments Susan Fiske (2002) What we know about bias and intergroup conflict, the problem of the century

16. Three theories of subtle prejudice • Modern or symbolic racism (Kinder & Sears, 1981) • Blaming the victim • Support of policies that all happen to disadvantage racial minorities • Ambivalent racism (Katz & Hass, 1988) • High scores on pro-Black attitudes (pity for the disadvantaged) • High scores on anti-Black attitudes (hostility toward the deviant) • Aversive racism (Gaertner & Dovidio, 1986) • A desire to be egalitarian and non-racist • Unconscious racist cognitions that are manifested during stress or ambiguity

17. Scenes from Crash: Aversive Racism • Character development • Racism or not racism

18. Fighting prejudice • Contact theory (antidote to realistic group conflict) • Equal status contact • Contact should have high acquaintance potential • Out-group members must not conform to stereotypes • Contact situation must encourage cooperation • Group contact must be supported by authority