factors affecting prejudice

Question 1

Personality: Right Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) Adorno 1950

Answer 1

Thought to predict prejudice and discrimination. RWA refers to one with rigid thinking, likes societal rules which people must stick to for society to function.

Question 2

Someone with RWA will

Answer 2

obey rules and obey those in authority, they will also want to punish anyone who does not obey the rules

Question 3

supporting evidence for RWA

Answer 3

Cohrs et al (2012) found that RWA was positively correlated with prejudice and that RWA was negatively correlated with openness to experience. shows levels of prejudice can be accurately predicted using personality traits.

Question 4

refuting evidence for RWA

Answer 4

RWA may not be consistent over time as social factors play a part
makes prejudice harder to predict in the real world
other factors such as culture and the situation may contribute towards it.

Question 5

Individualist Cultures

Answer 5

Stress the importance of individual accomplishment and the role of the individual.May be more likely to lead to interpersonal conflicts (conflict between individuals) rather than conflicts between groups of people.

Question 6

Collectivist Cultures

Answer 6

Collectivistic cultures stress the importance of the group as a collective. Al-Zahrani and Kaplowitz (1993) found that in a comparison of Saudi (collectivistic) and American (individualistic) people, Saudis tended to show more out-group derogation.

Question 7

multiculturalim

Answer 7

Multiculturalism is where the diversity of all cultures is accepted within a society and no one group is considered superior.

Question 8

supporting evidence

Answer 8

Guimond et al (2013) studied the link between multiculturalism and prejudice. They found the lowest levels of prejudice in Canada and the highest levels in Germany. In 1971 Canada adopted a multicultural policy which led to recognising and respecting diversity in languages, customs and religions. Therefore, prejudice can be reduced when diversity and multi-culturalism are promoted.

Question 9

situation

Answer 9

Physical or social environment which may influence a person’s behaviour

Question 10

Altemeyer (1988)

Answer 10

Altemeyer (1988):
* Focused on 3 of Adorno’s traits including authoritarian submission.
* People high in RWA hold prejudiced attitudes towards groups including women and
LGBT.* He believes RWA is a result of social learning.
* Children are socialised to think the world is dangerous and threatening, resulting in RWA.
* He beliefs in stems from beliefs about the world and people seeking security through social norms, showing hostility to change or people who present as ‘different

Question 11

Reducing Prejudice - Conclusion/Ideas

Answer 11

• Research on individual differences may indeed help to reduce prejudice.
• Prejudice may be learned (developmental/ cultural) through exposure to specific worldviews and prejudicial rhetoric (language used to convey a point or convince an audience) so regulation of media sources may be beneficial.
• Projects that challenge the view that the world is dangerous and competitive may also help to combat prejudice e.g. school twinning.
• It is important thinking about the root causes of prejudice and a way to combat them.