CM : Stéréotypes et préjugés

Introduction aux concepts de stéréotypes, préjugés et discrimination

• Stéréotypes: Beliefs and opinions about the characteristics, attributes, and behaviors of members of different groups. Often learned from peers, media, parents, and schools. Can be accurate or inaccurate, descriptive (describing group characteristics), or prescriptive (describing how group members should behave). They can be positive or negative, and individual or collective. Often contain a kernel of truth (a degree of accuracy).
• Prejudice: Emotions (like discomfort, anxiety, hostility) felt when thinking about or interacting with a member of another group.
• Discrimination: Treating people differently because of their group affiliation. Can be positive or negative.

How to study prejudice and discrimination

• Research Process: Theories propose connections between variables, with research stemming from past research, observation/experimentation, and informed speculation/hypotheses.
• Research Strategies: Types of research methods, including correlational studies (examining relationships between variables), experiments (manipulating a variable to investigate its causes), ethnographic studies (observing behaviors in contexts), and content analysis (analyzing documents or media). Important to acknowledge that correlation does not equal causation; multiple studies/research, and different contexts are necessary for meaningful conclusions.

Social Categorization and Stereotypes

• Social Categorization: The process of simplifying the environment by creating categories based on observable characteristics that individuals in a group might have. This is a common human way of organizing the complex world.
• Ingroup vs. Outgroup: The tendency to favor one's ingroup (our group) and view it more positively than the outgroup (other groups).
• Outgroup Homogeneity Bias: The tendency to perceive outgroup members as more similar to each other than they truly are and to underestimate the diversity within the outgroup.

Origin of Stereotypes

• Motivational Considerations: A desire for uniqueness leads us to focus on differences between groups and compare groups on broad, rather than specific levels.
• Familiarity: We have more opportunity to observe particular characteristics about ingroup members, increasing our understanding.

Stereotype Transmission

• Parents and Peers: Family and friends often transmit stereotypes.
• Media: Movies, newspapers, etc. are frequent sources.
• Language: Stereotypes are often perpetuated in everyday language.

Functions of Stereotypes

• Cognitive Function: Stereotypes help us process information quickly and efficiently in a complex world by simplifying the processing of new information.
• Self-Protective Function: Using stereotypes to elevate one's sense of self-worth by disparaging the outgroup.
• Social Adjustment: Stereotypes help maintain social standing within a group by maintaining the status quo.

Stereotype Activation and Application

• Categorization: The first step in applying a stereotype is to categorize someone as a member of a social group based on characteristics like gender, race, and age.
• Motivation: Motivation to understand others clearly or maintain a positive self-image can suppress the application of stereotypes.
• Consequences of Stereotype Activation: When a stereotype is activated, it can affect how individuals perceive and interact with members of the stereotyped group.

Ancient and Contemporary Forms of Prejudice

• Shift in Norms: Prejudice has changed over time, becoming less overt in some societies. People often struggle with upholding modern norms (of equality) while still harboring prejudices/stereotypes in their personal space.
• Symbolic Prejudice: A form of prejudice that is expressed as disapproval or disapproval of practices/behaviors of the outgroup, rather than individuals of particular groups and the actions they take.
• Subtle Prejudice: A form of subtle prejudice is characterized by a rejection of norms of equality/justice, while believing they are egalitarian/just. A group may embrace egalitarian principles, but unconsciously perpetuate inequalities and prejudices. Differences in opinions about group members, even if slight, are often expressions of deeper, more subtle prejudice.

Individual Differences and Prejudice

• Values: Deep-seated beliefs about what is important in life influence perceptions of others.
• Ideologies: Systems of beliefs influence attitudes and behaviors towards groups; social conservatism influences people's perceptions of the world/other groups, and their perceived entitlement to resources.
• Emotions: Emotions like disgust, anxiety, or fear can affect attitudes toward other groups.

Development of Prejudice in Children

• Emergence of Social Awareness: Children may be aware of social categories (like gender, race) by ages as early as 6 months old, indicating some level of implicit understanding of social groups.
• Development of Explicit Awareness: The explicit awareness of groups and prejudice emerges around 4-5 years old.

Social context of prejudice

• Realistic Conflict Theory: Prejudice can arise when groups compete for limited resources.
• Social Identity Theory: Prejudice can be strengthened by categorizing people into groups, particularly when one's identity is threatened.
• Relative Deprivation: A feeling of disadvantage relative to others or other groups can lead to negative judgments and resentment towards other groups.
• Scapegoating: Blaming an innocent entity or group for problems.

Prejudice Based on Gender, Sexual Orientation, and Age

• Gender Stereotypes: Stereotypes about gender vary across cultures and contexts/situations, including careers, typical roles, and personal characteristics, but are often not evenly distributed.
• Sexual Orientation Stereotypes: Stereotypes about sexual orientation based on gender roles, appearing in many contexts and cultures.
• Ageism: Age-related stereotypes and biases, impacting how people are treated/perceived in many contexts—especially in work or social settings—as age-based prejudice/stigmatization occurs.

Prejudice and Discrimination

• Defining Discrimination: Actions, behaviors, and/or practices directed at a group that are unjust or devaluing (hostile) or designed to benefit one's own in-group (favorable).
• Types of Discrimination: Overt, intentional, subtle/unintentional, institutionally based, or culturally ingrained.

Reducing Prejudice and Discrimination

• Intergroup Contact: Interaction between individuals from different groups can sometimes reduce prejudice, when conditions like equal status and common goals are met.
• Education: Education about diversity, multiculturalism, and overcoming biases/prejudices.
• Workplace Interventions: Efforts in the workplace to address/reduce prejudices and discrimination, such as training programs and diversity initiatives.

Ce quiz aborde les concepts de stéréotypes, préjugés et discrimination, en se concentrant sur leur définition et leur impact sociétal. Les questions examinent également les facteurs influençant le privilège de groupe et la dynamique entre endogroupe et exogroupe. Testez vos connaissances sur ces sujets essentiels en sociologie.