prejudice theories

Question 1

who made the social identity theory

Answer 1

Tajfel

Question 2

what are the stages of social identity

Answer 2

1. social categorisation
2. social identification
3. social comparison

Question 3

social categorisation

Answer 3

we categorise ourselves and others as members of social groups, the in-group and out-group

Question 4

social identification

Answer 4

we adopt the identity of our in-group then behave accordingly
we conform to the social norms of the group and our self-esteem becomes linked to the group

Question 5

social comparison

Answer 5

to maintain group and self esteem, we compare the in-group with out-groups
we show in-group favouritism and out-group negative bias

Question 6

Tajfel’s minimal group studies

Answer 6

his lab experiments found that when boys were placed in arbitrary groups and asked to allocate point to other boys they consistently awarded more points to boys on their team
- high level of empirical support for theory

Question 7

Jane Elliot

Answer 7

Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes field experiment
when children placed into groups based on eye colour they quickly developed prejudice and discriminatory behaviours not observed when all seen as one group

Question 8

applications of social identity theory

Answer 8

explains how racism is a taught behaviour

Question 9

Wetherall

Answer 9

in minimal group studies Polynesian children more generous to out-group than white children in New Zealand so some cultural norms emphasise cooperation
opposed social identity

Question 10

limitations of social identity theory

Answer 10

• reductionist, only explains group behaviour not individual differences, authoritarian personality better as it is specific to where one person is on the F-scale
• reduces cause of prejudice down to one factor (categorisation) so too simple
• theories grounded on studies may be limited if they lack gen/validity
• opposed by realist conflict theory

Question 11

who made realistic conflict theory

Answer 11

Sherif

Question 12

what is the basis of realistic conflict theory

Answer 12

intergroup hostility can arise due to competition over perceived valuable, scarce resources (situational factors) leading to prejudice against the out-group

when resources are abundant the groups cooperate in harmony

Question 13

negative interdependence

Answer 13

individuals can only achieve their goal via failure of competitor

Question 14

zero sums fate

Answer 14

if one side gains the other loses

Question 15

super-ordinate goals

Answer 15

goals that require cooperation of different social groups
increase exposure and reduce hostility

Question 16

Sherif’s Robbers Cave study

Answer 16

supports RCT
- found boys who were strangers at a summer camp quickly developed prejudice against other groups when competition was introduced, but superordinate goals lead to more out-group friendships

• however groups hostile even before competition so creation of groups alone can cause prejudice, social identity better e.g. in-group fav

Question 17

application of realistic conflict theory

Answer 17

• ability to predict prejudice in real life e.g. in Rwanda Hutus killed 800,000 Tutsis over 3 months after economic downturn and competition for political power

Question 18

Dollard

Answer 18

supports RCT
- prejudice against German immigrants increased in USA as jobs grew scarce

Question 19

weaknesses of realistic conflict theory

Answer 19

• cannot measure exact cause of prejudice, we don’t know if scarce resources are a cause or consequence
• no guarantee that superordinate goals work in long term, prejudice may only reduce in the people working together not their whole groups
• failure to achieve can worsen prejudice

Question 20

Aronson et al

Answer 20

‘jigsaw technique’
- reduction in racial tension when each child in a mixed race classroom had to complete part of a whole assignment and was dependent on other children to also perform well

so superordinate goals reduce tension when implemented consistently

Question 21

Deutsch + Collins

Answer 21

increased social contact with out-groups reduces effects of stereotypes e.g. integrated housing projects had lower prejudice than segregated housing projects

Question 22

why does an authoritarian personality increase prejudice

Answer 22

• more likely to socially categorise into strict in-groups and out-groups
• strict upbringing means they can’t express hostility correctly and displace it onto minorities

Question 23

strengths of authoritarian personality for prejudice

Answer 23

• considers dispositional factors and individual differences
• F-scale valid due to objective and scientific uses as a tool to measure personality

Question 24

limitations of authoritarian personality for prejudice

Answer 24

• doesn’t explain how whole social groups can be prejudiced as not everyone has an authoritarian personality
• F-scale flawed due to acquiescence bias as all questions worded in same direction, may just measure tendency to agree with everything

Question 25

what is social dominance orientation

Answer 25

SDO believe in social hierarchy and want their group to dominate others - more prejudiced to low status groups - correlated with rigid thinking and desire for superiority

Question 26

Gaucher, Friesen and Kay

Answer 26

support SDO - some dominant groups might attempt to maintain social dominance by skewing job advertisements by making them appeal to certain groups like males etc.

Question 27

Louis et al

Answer 27

scales measuring personality ignore role of social factors and only focus on individual factors so are reductionist, both need to be considered

Question 28

general effect of culture on prejudice

Answer 28

collectivist cultures are less prejudiced to in-group members as they place emphasis on needs of group but more prejudiced to out-group individualistic culture prejudiced towards in-group and out-group members as they emphasise private self and personal needs some cultures express prejudice in outward ways like violence or subtle ways like microaggressions

Question 29

Kleugel

Answer 29

found that collectivism is associated with greater tolerance and lower racism

Question 30

Katz and Hass

Answer 30

individualistic cultures prejudiced to in-group White Americans showed prejudice to Black Americans due to a tendency to attribute individualistic disadvantages to them because of racist stereotypes e.g. 'they don't have jobs because they're lazy'