Prejudice and Discrimination

What percentage of the population exhibits racist attitudes?

- around 20 percent

How pervasive is prejudice today?

- not as much as it used to be

What are its three components of prejudice?

Beliefs (often stereotypes) Emotions Predispositions to action (discrimination)

What is a stereotype?

a belief—positive or negative—about the characteristics of members of a group that is applied generally to most members of the group

What are "modern" or "aversive" racism?

covert, implicit and unintentional discriminatory behavior toward particular groups, rationalized aversion toward a particular group by altering standards during ambiguous situations, often rationalized as preferences, reflections of unexamined stereotypes associated with certain groups EX: hiring decision

Why has research focused on European-American prejudice against minority groups?

historical reasons: African Americans were once the largest minority group scientific reasons: social psychologists seek scientific generalization by testing and refining theory ethic of social responsibility: prejudice and discrimination as social/societal problems

What is discrimination?

negative behavior toward members of out-groups Whereas prejudice refers to negative attitudes toward others, discrimination refers to negative behaviors toward others.

What is prejudice?

the drawing of negative conclusions about a person, group of people, or situation prior to evaluating the evidence