Download PP Ch.5

Chapter 5
Stereotypes, Prejudice, and
Discrimination
Defining Important Terms
• Racism: Prejudice and discrimination based on a
person’s background
• Sexism: Prejudice and discrimination based on a
person’s gender
• Stereotypes: Beliefs that associate a whole group
of people with certain traits.
• Prejudice: Negative feelings about others because
of their connection to a social group.
• Discrimination: Negative behaviors directed
against persons because of their membership in a
particular group.
Persistence and Change
• In general, stereotyping, prejudice, and
discrimination are less acceptable than ever
before.
• But exceptions do exist.
Types of Racism
• Modern Racism: A form of racism that surfaces
in subtle ways when it is safe, socially
acceptable, and easy to rationalize
• Implicit Racism: Racism that operates
unconsciously and unintentionally
Sexism: Ambivalence and Double
Standards
• Blatant displays of sexism are less socially
acceptable than in the past
– But do continue to persist today
• Gender stereotypes are distinct in that they
are not only descriptive, but also prescriptive
– They tell people what they should do or be
Ambivalent Sexism
• Form of sexism characterized by attitudes
about women that reflect both negative,
resentful beliefs/feelings as well as
affectionate and chivalrous but potentially
patronizing beliefs/feelings
– Hostile sexism
– Benevolent sexism
• Seems to have diminished over time, but
discrimination based on sex is still prevalent
today
Stereotype Threat
• Stereotype threat is the fear that one will be
reduced to a stereotype in the eyes of others.
• How can stereotype threat hamper academic
achievement?
– The reactions to the threat can directly interfere
with performance.
– The threat can cause individuals to dismiss the
domain as no longer relevant to their self-esteem
and identity.
Ingroups vs. Outgroups
• Strong tendency to divide people into ingroups and
outgroups.
• Consequences
– Exaggerate differences between ingroups and
other outgroups
– Outgroup homogeneity effect
• New research indicates that perceivers may actually
process faces of outgroup members more like
objects than fellow human beings
• Dehumanization has played a role in atrocities
throughout history
Social Identity Theory
• Two Basic Predictions:
– Threats to one’s self-esteem heighten the need for
ingroup favoritism.
– Expressions of ingroup favoritism enhance one’s
self-esteem.
Confirmation Biases and Self-Fulfilling
Prophecies
• Stereotypes are often maintained and
strengthened through confirmation biases.
– Tendency to interpret, seek, and create
information to confirm expectations
• Stereotypes can cause a perceiver to act in
such a way that the stereotyped group
member really does behave in a stereotypeconfirming way.
– The stereotype creates a “self-fulfilling prophecy.”
How Stereotypes Survive and
Self-Perpetuate
• Illusory correlation: The tendency for people
to overestimate the link between variables
that are only slightly or not at all correlated.
• Tend to overestimate the association between
variables when:
– The variables are distinctive
– The variables are already expected to go together