Stereotypes 1 Flashcards
(29 cards)
What is social categorisation?
The act of putting people into social categories
Why are some social categories quite fuzzy?
There is not a strict all or nothing system, e.g. ‘nerd’
What are prototypes in social categorisation?
The most representative members of a category
What are stereotypes?
A collection of traits associated with a particular social group
What are self-fulflilling prophecies?
When expectations about group members change behaviour in a way that encourages stereotype-consistent behaviour
What do self-fulfilling prophecies confirm about a group?
Confirm the stereotype
Why do we place people into categories?
- Cognitive misers
- Simplifies an otherwise complex world
Why might social categorisation be spontaneous?
Occurs so quickly it barely requires thought, e.g. salient categories such as age or gender
What are two benefits of social categorisation?
- Simplification
- Can be useful and informative, e.g. doctor in white coat
What are two drawbacks of social categorisation?
- Can distort our perceptions
- Outgroup homogeneity: overly simplified beliefs about outgroups
Why might social categorisation result in simplified beliefs?
Very easy to apply stereotype without considering true characteristics of a person
Social Categorisation may not be automatic - it may be _______ dependent.
Goal
What is prejudice?
Negative attitude held towards a social group and its members
What is discrimination?
Biased behaviour because of group membership
What is in-group favouritism?
People have a strong tendency to think favourably about themselves
What are two common byproducts of Social Categorisation?
1) In-group favouritism
2) Discrimination
When it comes to stereotyping, what are people EVOLUTIONARY PREDISPOSED TO DO?
Assess a strangers intent as either harmful or helpful (warmth dimension)
Then judge strangers capacity to act on that intention (competence dimension)
The Stereotype Content model hypothesizes that….
2 primary dimensions
Competence
Warmth
Status predicts ………..
Stereotype content model
Competence
Category membership revolves around a ………….
Central prototype (e.g. DOG is the prototype of PETS)
Allport, regarding social categorisation said -
“The human mind must think with the aid of categories - we cannot possibly avoid this process”
Who said the following:
“We socially categorise so often, it SHOULD be automatic”
Fiske and Neuberg
Categories based on what features should be automatic? (Fisk and Neuberg)
Race
Geder
Age
(Salient social categories)
What is an argument AGAINST social categorisation being automatic? (goals)
It is goal dependent
Goals affect whether categorisation occurs automatically
1 study found ppt only categorised faces by gender when instructed to
