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Understanding Prejudice and Discrimination: Exploring the Nature and Sources

In this session, class members will gain an understanding of prejudice, discrimination, and racism. The session includes a video, small group discussions, and an exploration of the American Indian group's experiences. Topics covered include the components of prejudice, sources of prejudice, discrimination, and the evolution of racism.

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Understanding Prejudice and Discrimination: Exploring the Nature and Sources

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  1. Session #7: Prejudice and Discrimination • Class members will gain an understanding of the nature and sources of: • Prejudice • Discrimination • Racism • Skin Deep Video (50 minutes) • Small group process • American Indian Group

  2. What is Prejudice? • A negative attitude towards a socially defined group and toward any person perceived to be a member of that group. (Ashmore, 1970) • Faulty generalization from a group characterization (stereotype) to an individual, irrespective of either: • the accuracy of the stereotype in the first place, • the applicability of the group characterization to the individual in question (Jones, 1989) • Antipathy based on faulty and inflexible generalizations: • May be felt or expressed; • Directed towards individual or group (Allport, 1954).

  3. Prejudice Has Three Components (Harding et al, 1969) • #1 COGNITIVE • Beliefs: Irrationally based beliefs about group • #2: AFFECTIVE • Feelings: Dislike of group. • #3: BEHAVIORAL • Behaviors: Behavioral predisposition to avoid group

  4. SOURCES OF PREJUDICE(Reid, 1988; Cox, 1993) • INDIVIDUAL FACTORS • Personality • Authoritarian Personality • Tolerance for Ambiguity • Educational Level • Socialization and Contact (Allport’s Contact Hypothesis) • Interpersonal Factors • Attributions and Perceptions (cause of obesity) • Perceived physical attractiveness (Denzel Washington) • Communication proficiency

  5. Sources of Prejudice(cont’d) • GROUP FACTORS • Clear In/Out group status • Competition for scarce resources • Lack of positive contact between groups • Press to conform to group norms • Legacy effects from history of inter-group relations • SOCIETAL FACTORS • Laws (laws prohibit sexual orientation discrimination?) • Media (people with disabilities in the media?) • Education (diverse/ openly gay teachers?)

  6. DISCRIMINATION • “Discrimination involves denying individuals or groups of people equality of treatment.”(Allport, 1954). • “Actions designed to maintain own-group characteristics and favored position at the expense of comparison group.” (Jones, 1972). • Prejudice is an attitude. • Discrimination is a behavior. • Prejudice does not always lead to discrimination. • Discrimination may have causes other than prejudice (using situation for your advantage).

  7. RACISM • Discrimination based on race • Applications to other “isms” • (heterosexism; ableism; sexism) • Three inter-related forms (Jones, 1972): • INDIVIDUAL RACISM • Prejudice and discrimination • INSTITUTIONAL RACISM • Unintentional or Intentional policies that restrict opportunities • “English only”; No domestic partner benefits; flex-time; • CULTURAL RACISM • Societal view of superiority of one group over others; supports institutional and individual racism.

  8. The Evolution of Racism(Eberhardt & Fiske, 1998) • Traditional Racism • Belief in racial inferiority and segregation. • New/Modern Racism: subtle and underground • Symbolic Racism (McConahay, 1986) • racism expressed indirectly & symbolically (ie no public aid for U.S. born children of illegal immigrants; Confederate flag) • Aversive Racism: some of my best friends are... • Unconscious, negative feelings towards Blacks • Rationalize biased actions • Psychological and physical distance (cont’d)

  9. Examples of AVERSIVE RACISM • Simulated Accident Study (Gaertner & Dovidio, 1977) • White bystanders showed no racial bias in helping black and white victims when no one else was around. • But -- when given opportunity to rationalize (other bystanders around that could help) - helped white victims twice as often as black victims. • College Admission Study (Dovidio & Mullen, 1992) • College students given admissions packets of fictional black and white applicants; told they were applying to their school. • No bias in low-qualification condition: white candidates rated the same as black counterparts. • Bias in highly qualified condition: whites received higher ratings than blacks.

  10. Skin Deep Video (discussion questions in packet)

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