prejudice

prejudice

prejudice is a positive or negative attitude, judgment, or feeling generalized from attitudes or beliefs held about the group to which a person belongs. -To think you know everything about a group based on one or two facts or experiences -bias -discrimination -bigotry

assumed homogeneity

that everyone in a group is the same based on a perceived image of that group

stereotypes

: positive or negative set of beliefs about the characteristics of a group of people, assumption of a whole group

cause of prejudice

A. Fear of the stranger: we see people we are prejudice against as a threat: physical fear and fear of vulnerability B. Dread of change: the effects that the arrival of new groups might have on the neighborhood or community C. Economic competition: new comers will take away jobs from those already here D. Need to make sense of the world: convince ourselves that everyone of a certain color or background is alike so it makes us secure scapegoats: object that is blamed for our misfortunes, puts the blame on someone else E. Lack of self-esteem: prejudice provides a substitute for self-esteem, creates pride in race in ethnic groups and replace the pride they lack in themselves Ego defensiveness: protecting their groups identity F. Desire to belong: dividing ourselves into groups/ separate ourselves to define ourselves G. Ignorance: prejudice as a lack of information

Sociological foundations of prejudice

A. Learned behavior B. Birth to age 12 critical phase of identifying

Influences on development of prejudice

A. Parents are the first to share our definition of the world B. Peers are the people who influence us the most (mid-teens) C. National Leadership are the people we look to define national norms: attitudes about leaders influence our opinion about groups and people in society D. Wartime Propaganda in times of war media often joins with gov't to drum up hatred for the enemy E. Community Leaders can use position to stir-up hatred of other ethnic groups F. Media propagates images that are negative, focus on the negative aspects of groups for the sake of the more "interesting" story: follow some sort of belief on conspiracy theory

where do stereotypes come from

A. Socializing influences: provide a subculture whose values and beliefs influence our values and beliefs B. Television and other media: the younger the individual the more influence the media has on the development on their beliefs about others

Conscious and unconscious level of stereotypes

A. Unconscious level: stereotypes operate to influence our thoughts, feelings, or behaviors without our awareness B. Conscious level: make judgments that separate and categorize with no regard to the individual

legal examples

Historical examples- laws against black and whites marrying each other · Laws restricted to who you can sell your homes to · Women and native Americans being denied the right to vote b. Today- graduate school limits/quotas: these spots are limited · Glass ceiling for women: women are held down · Married gas not being allowed to adopt kids · Subtle behaviors where discrimination is legal

Five areas of discrimination

Jobs- paid less for doing the same job · There is a gender pay gab b. Housing- not being allowed housing in certain neighborhoods c. Education- not being allowed certain training or attend certain schools d. Politics- not being elected or appointed for office e. Society- denied access or privileges in general

Discrimination

affects our behaviors towards others Definition: negative behavior towards a person based on neg. attitudes one hold towards the group to which that person belong · Positive- positive behaviors such as helpful to someone who is short b. Overall: preventing people from having rights or benefits on the basis of what group they belong too · Minority: having less access to civil liberties

bigotry

generalizations made about people that are only faulty but also un-flexible

categorization

we define who is in and is not a part of the group that is stereotyped

prejudgment

we impose our categorical thinking and do not accept or appreciate individuality