Psychology Chapter on Prejudice and Bias

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Questions and Answers

Which measure assesses implicit bias?

Skin conductance measures

Donations to charity measure

Association task measure (correct)

Self-report questionnaires

What is not a component of prejudice?

Assertive (correct)

Affective

Cognitive

Behaviour

Which origin of prejudice is linked to learned behaviors from others?

Direct experience

Social learning (correct)

Operant conditioning

Classical conditioning

What does social identity theory suggest about individuals?

They derive self-esteem from their group memberships. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is considered an affective component of prejudice?

Feeling contempt towards a specific group Signup and view all the answers

Which example illustrates discrimination?

A company refusing to hire a qualified applicant due to their background Signup and view all the answers

Which type of social categorization focuses on shared characteristics within a group?

Ingroup Signup and view all the answers

What is a common source of prejudice related to media influence?

Social categorization Signup and view all the answers

What is a key finding of the Minimal Groups Paradigm?

Only one insignificant factor can lead to ingroup favoritism. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of participants tended to give more points to those in their ingroup in the Tajfel et al. (1971) study?

72.3% Signup and view all the answers

In Navarrete et al. (2012) study, how did participants experience fear towards ingroup members compared to outgroup members?

They feared outgroup members faster than ingroup members. Signup and view all the answers

What psychological principle explains the justification of prejudiced behavior according to Berscheid et al. (1968)?

Cognitive Dissonance Signup and view all the answers

What can lead to hostility within ingroups according to the findings on group behavior?

Conflicting goals and competition for resources Signup and view all the answers

What effect does experiencing cognitive dissonance have on individuals regarding their prejudiced actions?

They rationalize their prejudiced behavior to regain congruity. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following scenarios would be least likely to foster the creation of an ingroup?

A class divided by academic performance. Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant finding from the Minimal Group Paradigm experiments regarding behavior towards outgroup members?

Negative biases are developed towards outgroup members easily. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary concept illustrated by the Generalisation Effect?

Information about one member affects views of the entire group. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements accurately describes the Outgroup Homogeneity Effect?

Outgroup members are viewed as more similar than they are. Signup and view all the answers

What was a key finding from Quattrone & Jones (1980) regarding outgroup members?

One member's behavior can shape expectations for the entire outgroup. Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect on feelings toward an entire group when one of its members is portrayed negatively, as discussed in Puhl et al. (2013)?

Negative portrayal leads to dislike of the entire group. Signup and view all the answers

How can prejudice be reduced according to the Common Ingroup Identity Model?

By fostering a shared identity that includes both groups. Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of the Common Ingroup Identity Model?

It may not represent the interests of all subgroup members. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Dual Identity Model emphasize in reducing prejudice between groups?

Simultaneous activation of both shared and subgroup identities. Signup and view all the answers

Which effect refers to the tendency to perceive members of an outgroup as more similar than they are?

Outgroup Homogeneity Effect Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary benefit of emphasizing both differences and shared identity among urban residents and rural-to-urban migrants in China?

It enhances the well-being of both group members. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of condition can positively influence stereotypes about outgroups according to Ramasubramanian's findings?

Counter-stereotypical condition Signup and view all the answers

What does Intergroup Contact Theory suggest about interactions between individuals from different groups?

It reduces prejudice towards the represented groups. Signup and view all the answers

What is one form of interaction that can reduce prejudice, as stated in the content?

Imagined interactions Signup and view all the answers

What finding did Maunder et al., 2019 demonstrate regarding contact and interactions with outgroup members?

Any form of contact helps reduce prejudice. Signup and view all the answers

What generalisation can be made about individual experiences with outgroup members?

They can positively influence perceptions of the entire group. Signup and view all the answers

In what way is real-world intergroup contact often characterized, according to the findings?

It may include negative interactions that increase prejudice. Signup and view all the answers

What is an outcome of reduced prejudice through intergroup contact?

More positive attitudes towards the entire group. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Prejudice Definition

Prejudice is a hostile, negative attitude
It targets a distinct group based solely on their group membership
Prejudice is directed at individuals because of their group affiliation.

Prejudice Measures

Association Task Measure: Measures implicit bias
Skin conductance measures: Assess physiological responses
Donations to charity measure: Assesses behavioural measures
Self-report questionnaires: Measure explicit bias

Components of Prejudice

Cognitive: Stereotypes. Stereotypes are generalizations about a group that ascribe specific traits. It includes the beliefs and schemas, for example, the idea that someone is lazy.
Affective Bias: Emotional reactions towards a group. Examples include hate or contempt.
Behavioral: Acts of discrimination. Examples include refusing to hire someone based on their group membership (e.g., not hiring someone Indian).

Attitude Object

Individual members of a group

Common Types of Prejudices

Homophobia
Transphobia
Sexism
Racism
Antisemitism (Directed at Jewish people)

Prejudice Origins

Operant conditioning
Social learning
War
Direct experience
Interpersonal conflict
Classical conditioning
Genes

Process where people categorize themselves and others into distinct social groups.
Two types:
- Ingroups
- Outgroups
Common social categorizations include:
- Race
- Religion
- Social class/status
- Gender
- Sexuality
- Marital status

Individuals derive self-esteem from group memberships
A person's sense of self is based on their group memberships
People need their in-groups to view themselves positively

Categorisation that Causes Prejudices

School Teacher Jane Elliot study: Students with blue eyes were treated differently than students with brown eyes. The experimental manipulations influenced behaviors, personalities and academic performance.

Minimal Groups Paradigm

Not a theory, just a model
Discovered that minimal conditions are needed for prejudice to occur between groups
Shows that a tiny factor can create ingroups and outgroups
This creates self-esteem and positive associations for the ingroup and negativity for the outgroup

Minimal Group Experiment

Navarrete et al. (2012): Demonstrated conditioned fear of ingroup/outgroup members
Used psychology students and different coloured shirts to separate participants into different groups
Participants experienced electric shocks
Participants were faster to fear outgroup members than ingroup members

Realistic Conflict Theory

Conflict over goals/resources produces prejudice
Sherif & Sherif (1954): Robbers Cave Summer Camp study explored this by creating conflict through limited resources

Cognitive Dissonance

Justifying prejudiced behavior
Berscheid et al. (1968): Electric shock study. Participants justified prejudiced behavior when faced with cognitive dissonance (feeling bad after acting in a way that contradicts one's beliefs)
Subconscious process people engage in when harming the outgroup, justify their behaviors, and feel better

Individual to Group Generalization

Single member's characteristic influences the perception of the entire group

Outgroup Homogeneity Effect

Perceiving outgroup members as more similar than they actually are
Outgroup members: "they are all alike"
We perceive ingroup members as individuals

Research Outgroup Homogeneity Effect

Quattrone & Jones (1980): Outgroup Homogeneity and Generalization
Puhl et al. (2013): Generalization about obese people

Common Ingroup Identity Model

A larger shared identity can reduce prejudice.
The inclusion of outgroup members into a larger group.
Limitations: The superordinate identity is hard to maintain and can meet with resistance. May not represent everybody

Dual Identity Model

Encompasses both groups but maintains identities
Subgroup identity is simultaneously activated with a shared group identity, extending ingroup favouritism to outgroup members.

Research With the Dual Identity Model Manipulation

Shi et al. (2017): Examined the effects of dual identity in China: differences between urban and rural residents & Chinese immigrants

Reducing Prejudice- Generalisation With Counter Stereotypical Conditions

Ramasubramanian (2015) used counter-stereotypical conditions
Used positive stories about outgroup members (e.g. Morgan Freeman and Beyonce Knowles) to change negative stereotypes toward African Americans

Intergroup Contact Theory

Interactions reduce prejudice
Reducing prejudice by putting people from different groups together.
Contact can also be indirect (i.e., vicarious).

Research Own Study

Maunder et al. (2019): Examined online interactions and prejudice reduction
Contact, like using virtual reality (VR), chat-rooms or online interaction are all effective.

Criticism of Intergroup Contact

Experiments are not always realistic.
Realistically, positive and negative interactions occur, social norms and prejudice are not always disrupted by contact alone

Intergroup Contact Criticisms

McKeown & Dixon (2017): Contact may have a sedative effect, masking inequality, and reducing participation in social change.

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Description

Explore key concepts related to prejudice and implicit bias in this comprehensive quiz based on psychology theories. Delve into the origins, components, and psychological principles that explain discrimination and social identity. Perfect for students looking to deepen their understanding of group behavior and biases.