Stereotypes Prejudice Discrimination 

Reducing Prejudice

-Intergroup contact -Cooperative activities (Jigsaw Classrooms) -Redirecting focus on similarities, how individuals are alike -Educate about stereotype threat

Why do stereotypes persist?

Confirmation Bias -Ambiguous behaviors are interpreted via the stereotypes held by the observers (someone is rude to you and you take it as their group) Subtyping -"Exceptions" to the rule

Measuring Prejudice

Implicit Association Task (below our awareness) -Measures reaction time to assess people's unconscious attitudes toward various groups of individuals

Discrimination

Negative behavior based on prejudice and stereotyping toward members of a group -Hiring practices, housing, educational opportunities Behaviors

Prejudice

Prejudice: pre-judgment of another person based on group membership -Generally negative attitudes/feelings toward group Types of groups: -In-groups: groups which we "belong," share similar characteristics with (biassed) -Out-groups: everybody else Attitudes

Stereotype Threat

Raising awareness of a negative stereotype about a group to which we belong->reduced performance on tasks -Testing administration (Whites vs. Blacks; Men vs. Women) Self-fulfilling prophecy -The fear of fulfilling the stereotype results in the stereotyped behavior

Robber Cave Study

Realistic Conflict Theory -Prejudice exists because of competition for scarce resources Sherif (1954, 1961) Experiment -Phase 1: Forming in-group -Phase 2: Friction -Phase 3: Integration

Stereotypes

Simplified set of traits associated with group membership -Positive, negative, or neutral Heuristic, shortcut -Saves us time and energy -Rapid decision making, predictions regarding behavior Beliefs

Why do stereotypes exist?

Social Learning (learning from other people) Categorization -People sort others into social groups --A Class Divided ---Blue-eyed versus Brown-eyed students