Psychology social cognition Flashcards
Attitude definition
A positive or negative evaluation of an attitude object
Tri-componant theory of attributes
A - Affective - thoughts and feelings
B - Behaviours - actions and intensions
C - Cognitive beliefs - what you know about the attitude; thoughts
Prejudice definition and explanation
Definition: An unfavourable or negative attitude towards a group of people, based on insufficient or incorrect information about the group to whom it is directed.
Discrimination definition and explanation
Definition: The action that expresses the attitude of prejudice and is often directed at an individual.
Stereotypes definition and explanation
Definition: Generalised and simplified belief about a group of people.
Effects of prejudice and discrimination
Victims of of prejudice may suffer a range of effects that include physical, psychological and social disadvantage, low self-esteem, limited ambition and physical and verbal abuse.
Preventing and reducing prejudice
Prejudice can be difficult to change; however, education, intergroup contact, cognitive interventions, setting up superordinate goals and direct experience have been successful to an extent. Education Intergroup contact Cognitive interventions Superordinate goals Direct experience
Education
The formation of prejudice can be impeded through education programs in schools where children were taught about tolerance, the consequenses of prejudice, and what constitutes discrimination
Intergroup contact
Prejudice can be reduces through direct contact between groups of people who have prejudical attitudes towards each other
Cognitive interventions
Prejudicial can be countered by reducing stereotypes through cognition. for example, making information available to individuals reduces stereotypes by minimising irrelevant information about groups of people.
Superordinate goals
Working towards a common goal can facilitate knowledge and understanding between groups.
Direct experience
Directly experiencing another culture or lifestyles - either in another country or within our own - can help reduce prejudice. This could include learning another language, learning about another culture and participating in another culture. direct experience can result in better knowledge and understanding and can reduce ignorance.
