Prejudice

1. Prejudice

2. Stereotypes Stereotypes are a type of cultural knowledge. Cultural vs. personal stereotypes Some debate about whether there is a difference If you have not yet, please take the IAT and decide for yourself! Personal stereotypes are idiosyncratic personal beliefs Cultural stereotypes are those we have knowledge about Personal stereotypes are idiosyncratic personal beliefs Cultural stereotypes are those we have knowledge about

3. Stereotypes Cultural stereotypes Consensus lends to their validity Probabilistic associations Flexible�not all men or all women Resistant to disconfirmation Via exceptions to the rule Illusory correlations Illogical nature of emotion based beliefs If everyone agrees about the characteristics that describe a group�these beliefs are validated Specific exceptions: women are submissive unless they are ice queens. Think of other exceptions�nerds, sports chicks, etc.If everyone agrees about the characteristics that describe a group�these beliefs are validated Specific exceptions: women are submissive unless they are ice queens. Think of other exceptions�nerds, sports chicks, etc.

4. Prejudice is an attitude Affective component Emotional valence (positive or negative) Strength Cognitive component Stereotypes Behavioral component Discrimination

5. Prejudice, Stereotypes, Discrimination Prejudice : a negative attitude toward a group based on their group membership Stereotypes : generalizations about groups (beliefs, schemas) Discrimination: a negative or harmful behavior toward a group LOOK AT THE BOOK DEFINITIONSLOOK AT THE BOOK DEFINITIONS

6. Stereotypes How are stereotypes caused and maintainted? Social cognition and information processing Functions of stereotypes Prescriptions, system justification, and oppression Self Fulfilling Prophecies Reduction: Can we reduce stereotypes?

7. Stereotypes help us categorize the social world Stereotypes as schemas and mental short cuts Placing people into categories minimizes cognitive effort Simplifies social life Generates expectancies about how to interact with different types of people

8. Stereotypes are relatively effortless Stereotypes serve as expectations Direct attention to certain aspects of available information Color the interpretation of that information Influence the way the information is retained in memory Serve as hypotheses that are favored in the interpretation of new information (confirmation bias)

9. Stereotyped subtypes Used to deal with within group variability. Subtypes go beyond trait descriptions to encompass socially acceptable roles and occupations Rather than replacing or diminishing stereotypes, subtyping helps to maintain them, in part, by �fencing off� exceptions to the rule Rather than replacing or diminishing stereotypes, subtyping helps to maintain them, in part, by �fencing off� exceptions to the rule

10. Group processes motivate & maintain stereotyping Assimilation and Contrast Minimize outgroup differences and exaggerate ingroup differences Ingroup bias The minimum group paradigm Entitativity Perceived interchangability of members Outgroup homogeneity See outgroup members as similar in terms of attitudes, values, traits, and other characteristics

11. All Aboard!

12. Stereotypes are a maintained by social norms Descriptive stereotypes represents expectations about what category members are typically like Violations of descriptive stereotypes generate surprise but not anger or punishment All stereotypes function like descriptive norms All stereotypes function like descriptive norms

13. Some stereotypes function like prescriptive norms Prescriptive norms are beliefs about what category members ideally ought to be like Prescriptive stereotypes & system justification justify or rationalize a social system in which people traditionally occupy different role and status positions because of social category membership. Enables perceivers to justify their beliefs about the conduct of others Legitimizes long standing social practices and status hierarchies justify or rationalize a social system in which people traditionally occupy different role and status positions because of social category membership. Enables perceivers to justify their beliefs about the conduct of others Legitimizes long standing social practices and status hierarchies

14. Prescriptive Stereotypes Violations of prescriptive stereotypes generate anger and social punishment as well as surprise Only some stereotypes are prescriptive

15. Descriptive stereotypes: Cognitive simplification: categorization Generate surprise Minorities are stupid Women are polite, submissive Prescriptive stereotypes: Beliefs about what group members �ought� to be like Justify social system in which people hold different status and roles Anger and social punishment possible Justification examples: voting rights, crappy jobs, lack of power

16. Prescriptions & System Justification Ensures that people gravitate toward roles and levels of status considered appropriate for them Men depend on women to perform primary domestic and child care responsibilities Gender role and status distinctions create prescriptions Prescriptive stereotypes To keep the system running, whites encouraged prescriptive ideals for blacks that matched the roles they depended on blacks to play Prescriptive stereotypes To keep the system running, whites encouraged prescriptive ideals for blacks that matched the roles they depended on blacks to play

17. Prescriptive stereotypes describe the function of stereotypes Stereotypes are perpetuated and sustained because they serve three functions: Ego-Justification Group Justification System Justification �it is possible for a stereotype to grow in defiance of all evidence� (Allport) Take three groups: Women, Hispanics, and MuslimsTake three groups: Women, Hispanics, and Muslims

18. Social Group X Ego Justification Downward social comparison Better than average effects Denigrate Mr. X to increase my self worth Group Justification Group Y is better than X Social groups transform into �natural� groups People in group Y deserve resources more than people in group X Think of Jewish distinction in blood and taste; African and Native Americans vs. whites as natural categories that have biological distinctionsThink of Jewish distinction in blood and taste; African and Native Americans vs. whites as natural categories that have biological distinctions

19. Stereotypes and System Justification When so-called �natural� distinctions justify treatment and the status quo Stereotypes explain why inequalities exist and uphold the status quo Stereotypes justify unequal treatment Due to their natural deficiencies in abilities, intellect, etc., people who belong to group x do not have equal power How are Saudi�s justifying treatment of women? Gender and Natural distinctions Group X does not deserve�. Group X cannot do �.. Group X should just��. Due to their natural deficiencies in abilities, intellect, etc., people who belong to group x do not have equal power How are Saudi�s justifying treatment of women? Gender and Natural distinctions Group X does not deserve�. Group X cannot do �.. Group X should just��.

20. Who gets stereotyped? Wheel of oppression and Peggy McIntosh What�s normative, desired, and/or most usual in your society? What is expected and regular? What�s standard? Able-bodied White/light skin Male Heterosexual Christian Middle-class Native English speaker Relatively young

22. Stereotype Maintenance? We know why stereotypes are often used Can simplify cognitive processes and direct attention We know, in part, how they are maintained Their function leads to their maintenance Social validity Downward social comparisons and self esteem Self fulfilling prophecies

23. Self Fulfilling Prophecies Stereotypes cause people to construct a social reality that supports them Several processes lend to a self sustaining prophecy that allows stereotypes to perpetually regenerate in the culture at large Self selection Social interaction and confirmation Conformity pressures and consequences of deviance Self selection Social interaction and confirmation Conformity pressures and consequences of deviance

24. Self fulfilling prophecy Self stereotyping occurs when people form an identity Socialization processes cause people to internalize different expectations for their behavior E.g. expectation that men should be status seekers and women should be nurturing Involves willingness to adhere to a set of cultural rules when making decisions about one�s life course Forfeit genuine interests if they collide with these rules Involves willingness to adhere to a set of cultural rules when making decisions about one�s life course Forfeit genuine interests if they collide with these rules

25. Perceptual and Behavioral Confirmation Both prescriptive and descriptive aspects of stereotypes can lead to confirmation processes Confirmation bias and correspondence bias Perceptual confirmation occurs when people perceive others in ways that make them seem more stereotype consistent Perceptual confirmation occurs when people perceive others in ways that make them seem more stereotype consistent

26. Behavioral Confirmation and Self fulfilling prophecies Behavior confirmation occurs when perceivers behave in ways that actually elicit stereotype consistent behaviors from others. Zimbardo�s follow up for blue-eyed, brown-eyed (brilliant children study) Synder and Tanke�s attractiveness telephone study Perceivers are not mere passive recipients of information; they can also direct social interactions in ways that fulfill their beliefs Perceivers are not mere passive recipients of information; they can also direct social interactions in ways that fulfill their beliefs

27. Conformity The need to avoid gender deviance can lead men and women to not even try to correct their faulty performance on a task when they believe their mistakes are gender driven Hair braiding vs, knot tie Visual search and gender consistent performance Other social groups may conform to others expectations about them Other social groups may conform to others expectations about them

28. Reactions to Non-Conformity: Social Rejection Ostracism activates the same region of the brain that is activated when suffering physical pain and cognitive conflict Fear of ostracism is sufficiently powerful that people will go against their better judgment to avoid it Ostracized individuals employ many counter measures to reinstates themselves as worthy members of a group, including conforming to incorrect majority opinion Research suggest that individuals will withhold or change their dissenting opinions for fear of social reprisals (e.g.Challenger and Asch�s line study) Ostracized individuals employ many counter measures to reinstates themselves as worthy members of a group, including conforming to incorrect majority opinion Research suggest that individuals will withhold or change their dissenting opinions for fear of social reprisals (e.g.Challenger and Asch�s line study)

29. Obstacles to Nonconformity It is only when a critical mass of stereotypical �vanguards� emerge that stereotypes can be eradicated�people in the spot light that act as more than �token� subtypes. The sheer number of disconfirming examples eventually lead these stereotypes to be obsolete. Consider that women were once thought to be too irrational to be worth educating or allowed to vote Women were thought to be too emotional to be rational and were not allowed (and still not allowed in some cultures) to participate in society (politically, socially, academically, artistically�.ect) African Americans were believe to be physically incapable of athletic prowess (and were not allowed to participate in sports), Irish immigrants were ghettoized because they were thought to be drunken, slovenly, and promiscuous. Consider that women were once thought to be too irrational to be worth educating or allowed to vote Women were thought to be too emotional to be rational and were not allowed (and still not allowed in some cultures) to participate in society (politically, socially, academically, artistically�.ect) African Americans were believe to be physically incapable of athletic prowess (and were not allowed to participate in sports), Irish immigrants were ghettoized because they were thought to be drunken, slovenly, and promiscuous.

30. Summary Stereotypes are caused and maintained Simplify cognition, ease social interaction, function like expectations Serve justification functions (support beliefs about outgroups, support the status quo) Self fulfilling prophecies, behavioral confirmation, and fear of non-conformity sustain and perpetuate beliefs

31. Can Prejudice be Reduced? Contact Hypothesis Mutual interdependence Common goals Equal status Informal, interpersonal contact Multiple contacts Social norms of equality Jigsaw classroom