Social Categorisation, Stereotyping and Prejudice

1. 'Collection of instances'
2. Fuzzy set of features organised around a prototype. Prototypes represent the typical features of a category
3. Rosch - Categories are not rigid, but fuzzy

Nota:

• A set of common beliefs or generalisations

1. Social Identity Theory
   1. Categorise others in terms of group belonging (in-group vs. out group)
2. Where do they come from? Social learning and exposure
3. Self-fulfilling prophecy and stereotype threat

   Nota:

   • Expectations and assumptions influence interaction with others and eventually change their behaviour in line with our expectations
   1. Self-fulfilling prophecy - Stereotypes about a person that influences the way we behave around them that eventually changes how they behave
4. Saves Cognitive Energy
5. Affects how information is interpreted
6. Enables us to maintain a positive self-esteem
7. Automatic Stereotyping Activation Devine (1989)

   Nota:

   • Stereotypes operate like habits, triggered by cues in the environment Mere presence of a group member automatically activated the concepts with which the group has been habitually associated Regardless of belief in the stereotype

1. Dominated by cognitive bias and negative stereotypes
2. BEHAVIOUR based on unjust treatment of certain groups. 3 kinds: 1) Reluctance 2) Tokenism 3) Reverse discrimination
3. Relative deprivation - The sense of having less than we feel we are entitled to
4. Racism
   1. Dovido et al. (1996) - decline of racist attitudes over the last 60 years
      1. Deenine and Elliot (1950) argue there are still racist attitudes in 45%. Sepcific stereotypes changes but negativity remains
5. Sexism
   1. Institutional discrimination
   2. Glass ceiling
   3. Types of Sexism: Hostile Sexism Benevolent Sexism Ambivolent Sexism
   4. Young and James

      Nota:

      • Male Flight attendants block promotion/jobs
6. Prejudice and individual differences

   Nota:

   • Adomo et al.  Prejudice is based on personality syndrome
7. Social Dominance Theory - Sidanius 1993

   Nota:

   • Society is defined by hierarchy and implicit ideology. Societies institutions can enhance hierarchy and social dominancePeople high in social dominance (superior)- Tend to reject equality and favour intergroup hierarchy
8. Self Regulation - Thought process to become more egalitarian
   1. Cognitive Dissonance

      Nota:

      • State of psychological tension presented by having two contradictory cognitions. Results by either changing or rejecting one cognition.