Psychology Chapter on Prejudice and Discrimination

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Questions and Answers

What is the main difference between prejudice and discrimination?

Discrimination is the negative perception of a group, while prejudice is the belief in stereotypes.

Prejudice refers to negative feelings, while discrimination involves negative actions. (correct)

Prejudice can be measured explicitly, while discrimination cannot be quantified.

Prejudice is based on cognitive beliefs, whereas discrimination is a behavioral response.

Which statement accurately describes in-group favoritism?

It refers to a bias where out-group members are treated equally.

It is the tendency to treat in-group members negatively.

It defines the preference to support in-group members over out-group members. (correct)

It involves a neutral perception of both in-group and out-group members.

What describes ambivalent stereotypes?

Stereotypes that are entirely negative without any positive aspects.

Stereotypes that suggest warmth but lack competence. (correct)

Stereotypes that equally apply positive and negative traits to a group.

Stereotypes that reinforce equality and fairness among all groups.

What does the Implicit Association Test (IAT) measure?

Unconscious biases by assessing response times. Signup and view all the answers

Which concept describes the negative views of out-group members?

Out-Group Derogation Signup and view all the answers

What is the concept of 'resume whitening' related to?

Deleting signs of race or ethnicity from a CV Signup and view all the answers

What effect does self-affirmation have on individuals?

It strengthens personal identity Signup and view all the answers

Which condition is NOT essential for reducing prejudice according to the contact theory?

Cultural heritage celebration Signup and view all the answers

In the job application study, what was the result for applicants with high qualifications?

Both Black and White applicants were equally admitted Signup and view all the answers

What influence do self-fulfilling prophecies have on social interactions?

They can cause individuals to conform to negative expectations Signup and view all the answers

What was the general finding of the Robber’s Cave Study regarding intergroup competition?

It fostered rivalry and hostility Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a consequence of systemic inequalities?

Educational gaps among racial groups Signup and view all the answers

What is commonly associated with biased information processing in hiring practices?

Implicit biases reflecting in ambiguous decisions Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon does Realistic Group Conflict Theory emphasize as a cause for intergroup conflict?

Competition for limited resources Signup and view all the answers

In the Self-Fulfilling Prophecy study, what was primarily shown to affect the performance of candidates?

The expectations set by the interviewers based on stereotypes Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome when intergroup conflict was addressed through cooperative tasks in the Robber's Cave study?

Intergroup conflict decreased and positive relationships formed Signup and view all the answers

Which theory is illustrated by participants favoring their own group in the Minimal Group Paradigm despite trivial distinctions?

Social Identity Theory Signup and view all the answers

In the Derogating Out-Groups study, what motivated participants to rate Jewish candidates more harshly?

Personal insecurities and negative feedback received Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the implication of the Contact Hypothesis as derived from the Robber's Cave study?

Cooperation towards shared goals promotes positive relations Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT associated with the emergence of in-group favoritism as per the Minimal Group Paradigm?

Competition for resources Signup and view all the answers

What psychological function of prejudice is illustrated by the findings from the Derogating Out-Groups study?

Restoring self-worth by diminishing others Signup and view all the answers

What does discrimination refer to?

Unfair treatment based on group membership Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of modern racism?

Rejecting racist beliefs while harboring suspicions Signup and view all the answers

What does the Realistic Group Conflict Theory propose?

Prejudice emerges from competition over resources Signup and view all the answers

What does the Minimal Group Paradigm demonstrate?

Arbitrary group assignments can trigger in-group favoritism Signup and view all the answers

What is the Out-Group Homogeneity Effect?

Perceiving out-group members as more similar than in-group members Signup and view all the answers

What are cognitive shortcuts in the context of stereotyping?

Categorical thinking that simplifies perception Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements aligns with the Social Identity Theory?

Group membership can enhance self-concept Signup and view all the answers

What is paired distinctiveness in the context of stereotyping?

The simultaneous occurrence of two distinctive events creates a strong association Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Discrimination

Key Terms
- Stereotyping: Cognitive beliefs about group members.
- Prejudice: Affective negative feelings toward a group.
- Discrimination: Behavioral negative actions towards group members.

Disadvantages of Group Living

Intergroup competition and differing statuses emerge.
Dominant and subordinate groups arise.
Factors like race and socioeconomic status contribute.
Intergroup bias, stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination are common results.
Competition for resources creates social hierarchies.

Group Membership

In-Group: The group a person belongs to.
Out-Group: The group a person does not belong to.
Biases
- In-Group Favoritism: Positive treatment of in-group members.
- Out-Group Derogation: Negative views and treatment of out-group members.

Stereotypes

Definition: Beliefs that certain traits apply to all members of a group.
Stereotype Content Model: Groups are evaluated based on warmth and competence.

Ambivalent Stereotypes

Example: Older adults may be seen as warm but not competent.

Benevolent Sexism

Positive-sounding stereotypes that still reinforce inequality.
Example: "Women should be protected."

Prejudice

Definition: Negative attitude or feelings towards a group and its members.

Measuring Implicit Prejudice

Implicit Association Test (IAT): Measures unconscious biases through reaction times.
Findings: Significant prejudice among a considerable portion of the population.
Criticism: Predictive validity of the IAT in predicting behavior is questioned.

Discrimination

Definition: Unfair treatment due to group membership.
Explicit & Implicit Discrimination: Subtle and overt bias in modern society.
Modern Racism: Rejection of explicit racism, yet maintaining hostility towards a group.

Origins of Out-Group Dislike

Economic Perspective (Realistic Group Conflict Theory): Prejudice arises from competition over scarce resources.
- Robber's Cave Study: Illustrates hostility between groups competing over resources.
Motivational Perspective (Need to Belong): Psychological reasons for intergroup conflict.
Minimal Group Paradigm: Even arbitrary group assignment can trigger in-group favoritism.
Social Identity Theory: People derive self-concept from group membership, desiring positive social identity.

Cognitive Perspective

Cognitive Shortcuts:
- Stereotyping as a shortcut for categorizing people.
- Stereotypes as efficient but potentially inaccurate cognitive processes.
Out-Group Homogeneity Effect: Belief that out-group members are more similar than in-group members.
Paired Distinctiveness: Tendency to pair distinctive events with minority groups.
Shooter Bias: Increased likelihood of mistakenly shooting unarmed individuals of certain races in simulations.
Biased Information Processing:
- Resume Whitening: Modifying resumes to obscure racial identity.
- Self-fulfilling prophecy: Stereotypes affecting behavior and outcomes.

Reducing Stereotyping, Prejudice & Discrimination

Self-Affirmation: Strengthening personal identity reduces defensive reactions.
Mutual Interdependence & Common Goals: Cooperation reduces prejudice (Robber's Cave Study).
Contact Hypothesis: Cooperation towards superordinate goals reduces prejudice.
Job Application Study: Shows subtle bias in hiring processes, implicating modern racism.

Further Studies (Robber's Cave Study)

Part 2: Cooperative tasks reduced intergroup hostility.
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy Study: Interviewer behavior based on stereotypes affected candidate performance.
Minimal Group Paradigm (Part 1): Even arbitrary group distinctions can influence in-group favoritism.
Derogating Out-Groups Study: Negative feedback linked to more negative evaluations of out-group members, suggesting self-esteem impacts prejudice.

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Description

Explore key concepts related to prejudice, discrimination, and social dynamics in this informative quiz. Topics include implicit biases, in-group favoritism, and the effects of stereotypes on social behavior. Test your understanding of important psychological theories and studies.