Chapter 6

Question 1

attribution theory

Answer 1

a theory that attempts to determine the cause of the behavior. Two major dimensions are internal-external and stable-unstable

Question 2

fundamental attribution error

Answer 2

the tendency to overestimate dispositional (internal-stable) causes of behavior and to underestimate external causes of behaviors

Question 3

ultimate attribution error

Answer 3

the tendency to ascribe the cause of a behavior to dispositional characteristics of the group rather than to an individual member

Question 4

stereotype

Answer 4

all of these:

1) a generalization about a group or its members based on their categorization
2) can be an accurate reflection of a group’s norm
3) can be an overgeneralization, applying the norm to every member of the group or not allowing for variation about this norm
4) can be simply inaccurate
5) is considered the cognitive component of categorization

Question 5

prejudice

Answer 5

all of these:

1) a negative judgement about a group or its members based on categorization
2) is considered evaluative component of categorization

Question 6

discrimination

Answer 6

all of these:

1) a negative behavior toward a group or its members based on categorization
2) is considered behavior component of categorization

Question 7

racism

Answer 7

all of these:

1) discriminatory behavior that is backed by institutional power
2) is considered the institutional component of categorization

Question 8

stereotype threat

Answer 8

a fear that one will confirm the negative stereotype of a group to which one belongs in an area in which the individual excels

Question 9

illusory correlation

Answer 9

an overestimation of the co-occurrence of two minority events

Question 10

heuristic

Answer 10

is a mental shortcut or rule of thumb used for making calculations or assessments of sometimes complex circumstances.

Question 11

availability heuristic

Answer 11

a mental shortcut whereby the importance, frequency, or credence of something is exaggerated because it comes to mind easily.

Question 12

At least two ways in which stereotypes are developed

Answer 12

Benign: illusory correlation; Malicious: cognitive dissonance theory

Question 13

cognitive dissonance theory

Answer 13

when two cognitions are in conflict, a person will be motivated to change one of them to reduce the unsettled feelings caused by the discrepancy

Question 14

overt racism

Answer 14

discriminatory behavior in which people in the majority engage in open, hostile acts of aggression against racial minorities consciously and unapologetically

Question 15

covert, intentional racism

Answer 15

discriminatory behavior that is intentional but is covered up so that one can deny his or her racism

Question 16

symbolic racism

Answer 16

an issue that does not overtly involve race but is used to promote racism through issues that are associated with one racial group and not the European American majority group, even if this association is not real or is exaggerated

Question 17

covert, unintentional racism

Answer 17

discriminatory behavior that is unintentional but serves to perpetuate ongoing racist acts or traditions

Question 18

aversive racism

Answer 18

covert, unintentional discriminatory behavior practiced by individuals who would deny being racist and who would be appalled to realize that they were engaging in racist acts

Question 19

color-blind racial ideology

Answer 19

an attempt to pretend that race and racism will not exist if people ignore race or ethnicity. This ideology has two components: color evasion and power evasion

Question 20

color evasion

Answer 20

asserts that there are no differences in the way in which people are treated based on their color

Question 21

power evasion

Answer 21

asserts that any differences in accomplishment are completely based on the individual’s own work and not due to any advantages of color built into the system

Question 22

internalized oppression

Answer 22

people who are colonized and/or oppressed may automatically accept the superiority of the oppressor

Question 23

racial microaggression

Answer 23

a small slight or offense that may be intentional but is mostly unintentional and does not harm the target of the offenses in any major way, but can be accumulated to be burdensome over time

Question 24

Sue and colleagues categorized racial microaggressions into three categories

Answer 24

microassault, microinsult, and microinvalidation

Question 25

microassault

Answer 25

a blatant verbal, nonverbal, and environmental attack that is intentionally discriminatory or biased.

Question 26

microinsult

Answer 26

an unintentional behavior or verbal comment conveying rudeness or insensitivity

Question 27

microinvalidation

Answer 27

an action that excludes, negates, or dismisses the perceptions of the target person

Question 28

male privilege

Answer 28

the unearned advantages associated with being male, such as knowing that one's opinion will be respected. Women often feel that their opinions are not respected or are attributed to emotion, not sound reasoning

Question 29

White privilege

Answer 29

the unearned advantages associated with being White in America, such as knowing that Whiteness will be emphasized in the media. People of color are not always portrayed in the media, and when they are, they are often portrayed stereotypically rather than as multifaceted individuals

Question 30

allies

Answer 30

individuals who are on the upside of power who cross a demographic boundary to advocate for those on the downside of power