Social Approach - Prejudice

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  • Created by: Lozz00
  • Created on: 28-04-17 14:24

SOCIAL IDENTITY THEORY

Social Identity Theory (SIT) suggests that participants want to promote membersvof their in-group over the out-group members, because it enhances their own status. If you are in a group, thinking of that group as the best will enhance your own self-esteem.

According to Tajfel and Turner (1979), prejudice can be explained by our tendency to identify ourselves as part of a group, and to classify other people as either in or out of that group.

     In-group  -  the group we belong to                              Out-group  -  everyone else

There are three cognitive processes involved in evaluating others as part of the in-group or out-group:

1. Social categorisation - we categorise ourselves an others as members of particular social groups

2. Social identification - we adopt the identity of the group e have categorised ourselves into.

3. Social comparison - once we have categorised ourselves as part of a group and identified woth that group, we compare that group with others.

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RESEARCH INTO SOCIAL IDENTITY THEORY

This theory was based on a series of lab experiments called the 'minimal group studies'. Minimal groups is so named as the grounds on which the participants would see themselves as belonging to one group or another were minimal (e.g. by the toss of a coin or which painting they preferred). Tajfel's experiments found that in spite of the fact that there was no competition between groups, the participants consistently displayed prejudice towards those identified as being in the same group as themselves, and against those as being identified as in a different group.

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REALISTIC CONFLICT THEORY

Realistic Conflict Theory states that whenever there are two or more groups that are seeking the same limited resources, this will lead to conflict, negative stereotypes and beliefs, and discrimination between the groups. This theory holds that hostility between groups is a result of direct competition for limited and valued resources. Sherif (1966) proposed that intergroup relations reflect the functional relatios between groups. The conflict can lead to increasing animosity towards the groups and can cause an ongoing feud to develop.

Realistic Conflict Theory is used to explain the conflict, negative prejudices, and discrimination that occur between groups of people who are in competition for the same resources.

If the outcomes of two groups are competitively interdependent (gains for one group depend on losses for the other) intergroup hostility will be maximised; competition gives rise to unfavourable stereotypes, increased in-group solidarity and cohesiveness and thus to in-group biases in evaluations of the two groups. If the groups are cooperatively interdependent (e.g. there is a superordinate goal), intergroup hostility will be reduced, cumulatively improving intergroup relations.

But, conflict, negative stereotypes and beliefs, and discrimination between groups can potentially be reduced in situations where 2+ groups are seeking to obtain some superordinate goals.

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PERSONALITY FACTORS AFFECTING PREJUDICE

Adorno et al. (1950) proposed that individual differences in prejudice could be explained by the idea of an authoritarian personality. Based on Freudian theory, Adorno et al. argued that prejudiced people were more likely to have experienced a harsh style of parenting. Adorno reasoned that harsh discipline would make the child outwardly obedient, but at the same time create hostility that could not be directed at the parents because of fear. The child would grow into an adult who obeyed and feared those with more power, but the hostility would be displaced onto those who were weaker, such as those with lower social status. 

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SITUATIONAL FACTORS AFFECTING PREJUDICE

Changes in social norms can lead to an increase in social prejudice, in particular any kind of social threat from a group may cause problems and these are directly related to the situation. A rime example would be the rise of Islamophobia today as there is a percieved social threat from radicalised Muslims. This is a product of the situation society finds itself in due to various events over the past decade or so. Furthermore, it is reasonable to expect an increase in prejudice and discrimination against minority groups in bad economic tmes or national trauma like the 9/11 attack, both of which are products of the situation.

Situational factors more close to home may play a part too. A child who is exposed to racism and prejudiced peers and family members will invariably take on the norms and values of the situation themself.

SIT suggest that whenever a situation arises where ther are two groups (in-group and out-group), prejudice will occur.

RCT suggests that when there is conflict over scarce resources, conflict will occur.

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CULTURAL FACTORS AFFECTING PREJUDICE

Cultures may demonstrate prejudices about others in a variety of ways including the stereotypes they apply to members of other groups, the ways they make sense of the actions of members of other cultures and, frequently, open aggression and hostility towards members of cultures not their own. All cultures seem to make a fundamental distinction between 'us' and 'them' and it apears universal that they favour 'us' over 'them' for many purposes. Consequently, it could be said that all cultures show a bias that could be regarded as prejudice.

Clearly, cultural groups stereotype each other with undesirable characteristics typically being attributed to the out-group. However, the tendency to stereotype out-group members may be a consequence of a predisposition to be biased against them (as in SIT) rather than the initial cause of prejudice. If this is the case, then stereotypes may play a more important role in maintaining prejudice than in causing it. Negative stereotypes may cause people to avoid members of other cultures. They are also ikely to influence how the behaviour of out-group members is interpreted.

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