Chapter 6: Prejudice & discrimination: causes, effects and cures
Stereotypes – beliefs about social groups in terms of the traits or characteristics that they are believed to
share. Stereotypes are cognitive frameworks that influence the processing of social information
Discrimination – differential (usually negative) behaviors directed toward members of different social
groups
Prejudice – an attitude towards the members of a group, based solely on their membership of that group.
Dislike based on group membership
Can have important effect on victims
Discriminatory treatment based on such category can be blatant of subtle
Can be seen as legitimate and justified, or illegitimate and should strive to prevent
All forms of differential treatment based on group membership are not perceived and responded to in the
same way.
1. How members of different groups perceive inequality
Perception of prejudice depends to which group we belong – target group or group perpetrating the
unequal treatment
They differ in assessments of severity and legitimacy of discriminations
And degree of progress that has been made towards its reduction
Accounting for differences, involves consideration of the implications that the groups see in any potential
change in relations between them
People are risk averse: we weigh possible losses more heavily than equivalent potential gains. As a
result, we respond more negative to changes that are framed as potential losses than positively to
changes that are framed as potential gains.
Majority group members tend to respond more negatively to actions towards equality for all. Change
has already occurred
Minority group or individual of targeted group see changes as insufficient
Increased modern racism: – more subtle beliefs than blatant feelings of superiority. It consists primarily of
thinking minorities are seeking and receiving more benefits than they deserve and a denial that
discrimination affects their outcomes.
Group differences in perception of social change can stem solely from one group considering the change
reflecting a loss for their group and the other considering the change a gain for their group
1
, 2. The nature and origins of stereotyping
Stereotypes – cognitive component of attitudes toward a social group, beliefs about what a particular
group is like
Prejudice – the affective (emotional) component – the feelings we have about particular groups
Discrimination – the behavioral component or differential actions taken toward members of specific social
groups
Negative stereotyped beliefs lead to general feelings of hostility, which result in a conscious intention to
act against members of a targeted group
Stereotyping: beliefs about social groups
Beliefs and expectations that we have concerning what members of those groups are like.
Can include more than just traits, physical appearance, activity preferences, and behaviors
Traits thought to distinguish between the groups can be:
Positive or negative attributes
Accurate or inaccurate
Can be agreed with or rejected by members of stereotyped group
Gender stereotypes – beliefs concerning the characteristics of women and men – contain both positive
and negative traits
Eg. Women are kind, nurturing and considerate but dependent, weak and overly emotional
Both men and woman are seen to have positive and negative traits…
Because woman score higher on the trait of warmth…ppl tend to feel more positively about women.
However the traits woman posses also tend to be vied as less appropriate for high statues positions…
Stereotypes and the glass ceiling:
Glass ceiling: barriers based on attitudinal or organizational bias that prevent qualified females from
advancing to top-level positions
Woman often can’t achieve the highest level at a profession there is a bias that helps this…
Think manager-think male bias
The stereotypical attributes of managers overlap with the “typical male” this lead to the perception that
woman don’t fit the manager role.
2
Stereotypes – beliefs about social groups in terms of the traits or characteristics that they are believed to
share. Stereotypes are cognitive frameworks that influence the processing of social information
Discrimination – differential (usually negative) behaviors directed toward members of different social
groups
Prejudice – an attitude towards the members of a group, based solely on their membership of that group.
Dislike based on group membership
Can have important effect on victims
Discriminatory treatment based on such category can be blatant of subtle
Can be seen as legitimate and justified, or illegitimate and should strive to prevent
All forms of differential treatment based on group membership are not perceived and responded to in the
same way.
1. How members of different groups perceive inequality
Perception of prejudice depends to which group we belong – target group or group perpetrating the
unequal treatment
They differ in assessments of severity and legitimacy of discriminations
And degree of progress that has been made towards its reduction
Accounting for differences, involves consideration of the implications that the groups see in any potential
change in relations between them
People are risk averse: we weigh possible losses more heavily than equivalent potential gains. As a
result, we respond more negative to changes that are framed as potential losses than positively to
changes that are framed as potential gains.
Majority group members tend to respond more negatively to actions towards equality for all. Change
has already occurred
Minority group or individual of targeted group see changes as insufficient
Increased modern racism: – more subtle beliefs than blatant feelings of superiority. It consists primarily of
thinking minorities are seeking and receiving more benefits than they deserve and a denial that
discrimination affects their outcomes.
Group differences in perception of social change can stem solely from one group considering the change
reflecting a loss for their group and the other considering the change a gain for their group
1
, 2. The nature and origins of stereotyping
Stereotypes – cognitive component of attitudes toward a social group, beliefs about what a particular
group is like
Prejudice – the affective (emotional) component – the feelings we have about particular groups
Discrimination – the behavioral component or differential actions taken toward members of specific social
groups
Negative stereotyped beliefs lead to general feelings of hostility, which result in a conscious intention to
act against members of a targeted group
Stereotyping: beliefs about social groups
Beliefs and expectations that we have concerning what members of those groups are like.
Can include more than just traits, physical appearance, activity preferences, and behaviors
Traits thought to distinguish between the groups can be:
Positive or negative attributes
Accurate or inaccurate
Can be agreed with or rejected by members of stereotyped group
Gender stereotypes – beliefs concerning the characteristics of women and men – contain both positive
and negative traits
Eg. Women are kind, nurturing and considerate but dependent, weak and overly emotional
Both men and woman are seen to have positive and negative traits…
Because woman score higher on the trait of warmth…ppl tend to feel more positively about women.
However the traits woman posses also tend to be vied as less appropriate for high statues positions…
Stereotypes and the glass ceiling:
Glass ceiling: barriers based on attitudinal or organizational bias that prevent qualified females from
advancing to top-level positions
Woman often can’t achieve the highest level at a profession there is a bias that helps this…
Think manager-think male bias
The stereotypical attributes of managers overlap with the “typical male” this lead to the perception that
woman don’t fit the manager role.
2
