attitudes & prejudice

8/22/2019 Attitudes & Prejudice

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Social Thinking:Attitudes & Prejudice


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Attitudes

What is an attitude?predisposition to evaluate some people, groups, or

issues in a particular way

can be negative or positiveHas three components

Cognitivethoughts about given topic or situation

Affectivefeelings or emotions about topic

Behavioralyour actions regarding the topic or situation


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Components of Attitudes An attitude is a positive or negative

evaluation of an object, person, or idea


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The Effect of Attitudes on

Behavior Youre most likely to behave in accordance

with your attitudes when

1. Attitudes are extreme or are frequentlyexpressed

2. Attitudes have been formed through direct

experience.

3. You are very knowledgeable about the subject.4. You have a vested interest in the subject.

5. You anticipate a favorable outcome or response

from others for doing so.


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Attitudes Affecting Actions

Many studies suggest a persons

attitudes do not match their actions

Attitudes can predict behavior if:

Outside influences are minimal

People are aware of their attitudesAttitude is relevant to behavior


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Actions Affecting Attitudes

Under some circumstances ones

actions can influence attitudes. They

include:

Foot-in-the-door phenomenon

Role playingCognitive dissonance


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Cognitive Dissonance

(Leon Festinger)

The theory that people act to reduce

the discomfort (dissonance) they feel

when their thoughts (cognitions) are

inconsistent with their actions

When our attitudes are inconsistentwith our actions, we change our

attitudes to reduce the dissonance.

1919-1989


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Cognitive Dissonance

Unpleasant state of psychological tension or

arousal that occurs when two thoughts or

perceptions are inconsistent Attitudes and behaviors are in conflict

it is uncomfortable for us

we seek ways to decrease discomfort caused bythe inconsistency


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How Cognitive DissonanceLeads to Attitude Change

When your behavior conflicts with your attitudes, an uncomfortablestate of tension is produced. However, if you can rationalize orexplain your behavior, the conflict (and the tension) is eliminatedor avoided. If you cant explain your behavior, you may changeyour attitude so that it is in harmony with your behavior.


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Insufficient-justification effect

Festinger & Carlsmith (1959) gave subjects a boring task, then asked subjects to lie to

the next subject and say the experiment was exciting

paid the subjects $1, other $20

then asked subjects to rate boringness of task $1 group rated the task as far more fun than the $20

group

each group needed a justification for lying

$20 group had an external justification of money since $1 isnt very much money, $1 group said task was fun


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Role PlayingCan be explained by Cognitive Dissonance

Playing a role can influence or change ones attitude

Zimbardos Prison Study

College students played the role of guard orprisoner in a simulated prison.

The study was ended after just 6 days when theguards became too aggressive and cruel.

Want to learn more about this famous study? Seethe Stanford Prison Experiment Online SlideShow or watch Stanford Prison Experiment video(8 minutes)

Modern issues of Prison Abusesee CNNReport on Juvenile Jails and Abuse3 min.

Dr. Phillip

Zimbardo
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www3.niu.edu/acad/psych/Millis/History/2004/Prison_hall.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www3.niu.edu/acad/psych/Millis/History/2004/experiments.htm&h=286&w=180&sz=33&hl=en&start=18&tbnid=7oCMTL3wQEqcdM:&tbnh=115&http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www3.niu.edu/acad/psych/Millis/History/2004/Prison_hall.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www3.niu.edu/acad/psych/Millis/History/2004/experiments.htm&h=286&w=180&sz=33&hl=en&start=18&tbnid=7oCMTL3wQEqcdM:&tbnh=115&http://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_11/Videos%20&%20pics/32_Social_StanfordPrison.mpghttp://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_11/Videos%20&%20pics/Juvenile%20Jail%20Mistreatment%203%20min.avihttp://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_11/Videos%20&%20pics/Juvenile%20Jail%20Mistreatment%203%20min.avihttp://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_11/Videos%20&%20pics/Juvenile%20Jail%20Mistreatment%203%20min.avihttp://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_11/Videos%20&%20pics/Juvenile%20Jail%20Mistreatment%203%20min.avihttp://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_11/Videos%20&%20pics/Juvenile%20Jail%20Mistreatment%203%20min.avihttp://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_11/Videos%20&%20pics/Juvenile%20Jail%20Mistreatment%203%20min.avihttp://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_11/Videos%20&%20pics/Juvenile%20Jail%20Mistreatment%203%20min.avihttp://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_11/Videos%20&%20pics/Juvenile%20Jail%20Mistreatment%203%20min.avihttp://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_11/Videos%20&%20pics/Juvenile%20Jail%20Mistreatment%203%20min.avihttp://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_11/Videos%20&%20pics/32_Social_StanfordPrison.mpghttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www3.niu.edu/acad/psych/Millis/History/2004/Prison_hall.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www3.niu.edu/acad/psych/Millis/History/2004/experiments.htm&h=286&w=180&sz=33&hl=en&start=18&tbnid=7oCMTL3wQEqcdM:&tbnh=115&http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www3.niu.edu/acad/psych/Millis/History/2004/Prison_hall.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www3.niu.edu/acad/psych/Millis/History/2004/experiments.htm&h=286&w=180&sz=33&hl=en&start=18&tbnid=7oCMTL3wQEqcdM:&tbnh=115&


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Cognitive Dissonance: A Review

If you have a good excuse for a behavior

that does not go with your attitude then

you avoid dissonance.If you do not have a good excuse for a

behavior that is against your attitude you

must change your attitude to fit yourbehavior.


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Dissonance-Reducing Mechanisms

Avoiding dissonant informationwe attend to information in support of our

existing views, rather than information that

doesnt support them Firming up an attitude to be consistent

with an action

once weve made a choice to do something,lingering doubts about our actions would causedissonance, so we are motivated to set them aside


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Foot-in-the-Door Phenomenon

The tendency for people who have

first agreed to a small request to

comply later with a larger request


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Prejudice


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Prejudice

Based on the exaggerated notion that membersof other social groups are very different from

members of our own social group An unjustifiable attitude toward a group and its

members

Usually involves stereotyped beliefs, negativefeelings, and a predisposition to discriminatoryaction

Usually involves a negative attitude


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Keep in Mind

Racial and ethnic groups are far more

alike than they are different

Any differences that may exist betweenmembers of different racial and ethnic

groups are farsmaller than differences

among various members of the samegroup.


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Categorization

The tendency to group similar objects

May be a means to explain

stereotypes

St t


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Stereotype

A generalized belief about a group of people

Stereotypes are sometimes accurate but oftenovergeneralized.

Because stereotypes sometimes have a

kernel of truth, they are easy to confirm,especially when you see only what youexpect to see.

When stereotypic beliefs becomeexpectations that are applied to all membersof a given group, they can be both misleadingand damaging

Creating special cases, or exceptions, allows


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Studying stereotypes 3 levels of stereotypes in todays research

public what we say to others about a group

private what we consciously think about a group, but dont say to others

implicit unconscious mental associations guiding our judgments and actions

without our conscious awareness

See The Hidden Prejudice video clip (ScientificAmerican Frontiers (6 minutes)
http://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_11/Videos%20&%20pics/15_Prejudice.mpghttp://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_11/Videos%20&%20pics/15_Prejudice.mpg


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Implicit Stereotypes Use of priming: subject doesnt know

stereotype is being activated, cant workto suppress it Bargh study

have subjects read word lists, some lists include words like gray,Bingo, and Florida

subjects with old word lists walked to elevators significantly moreslowly

another study flash pictures of Black vs. White faces subliminally

give incomplete words like hos_____, subjects seeing Black makehostile, seeing White make hospital


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Implicit Stereotypes Devines automaticity theory

stereotypes about African-Americans are so prevalentin our culture that we all hold them

these stereotypes are automatically activatedwhenever we come into contact with an African-American

we have to actively push them back down if we dontwish to act in a prejudiced way.

Overcoming prejudice is possible, but takes work


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Ingroup Us

People with whom one shares a

common identity


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Outgroup Them

Those perceived as different or apart

form us (the ingroup)


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Out-Group Homogeneity

Effect

1. Typically, we describe the members of

ourin-group as being quite varied,

despite having enough features incommon to belong to the same group

2. We tend to see members of the out-

group as much more similarto oneanother, even in areas that have little

to do with the criteria for group

membership.


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Ingroup Bias

The tendency to favor ones own group usually atthe expense of the outgroup

We make favorable, positive attributions forbehaviors by members of our in-group, andunfavorable, negative attributions forbehaviors by members of out-groups.

Ethnocentrism - belief that ones own cultureor ethnic group is superior to others


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The Basis for Prejudice

In combination, stereotypes and in-group/out-group bias form the cognitive

basis for prejudicial attitudes. Prejudice also has a strong emotional

component, which is intensely negative andinvolves hatred, contempt, fear, and loathing

Behaviorally, prejudice can be displayed inthe form of discrimination


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Discrimination

In social relations, taking action

against a group of people because of

stereotyped beliefs and feelings ofprejudice


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Prejudice and Discrimination

Play Attitudes and Prejudicial

Behavior (6:06) Segment #31 from

Psychology: The Human Experience.

Play Ethnocentrism and Prejudice

(5:06) Segment #32 from Psychology:

The Human Experience.


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Scapegoat Theory

The theory that prejudice provides an

outlet for anger by providing someone

to blame

Example: Nazi Germany blaming the

Jews for the troubles in Germany

after WWI.


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Just-World Phenomenon

The tendency to believe that people

get what they deserve and deserve

what they get

Reflects childs attitude that good is

rewarded and evil is punished


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Accounting for Prejudice


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Accounting for Prejudice:

Two Theories1. Prejudice and intergroup hostility

increase when different groups are

competing for scarce resources2. People are prejudiced against groups

that are perceived as threateningimportant in-group norms and values

Social psychologists have increasinglycome to believe # 2 is more correct.


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Overcoming Prejudice


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Reducing Prejudice

Initially, researchers thought simple

contact between conflicting groups

would reduce prejudice (contact theory) They now think that prejudice can be

overcome when rival groups cooperate

to achieve a common goal


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Social Identity and Cooperation

Social identity theory:

States that when youre assigned to a group, youautomatically think of that group as an in-groupfor you

Sherifs Robbers Cave study 1112 year old boys at camp

Boys were divided into 2 groups and keptseparate from one another

Each group took on characteristics of distinctsocial group, with leaders, rules, norms of

behavior, and names


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Robbers Cave (Sherif) Leaders proposed series of competitive

interactions which led to 3 changes betweengroups and within groups

within-group solidarity

negative stereotyping of other group

hostile between-group interactions

A fierce rivalry quickly developed

To restore harmony, Sherif created a

series of situations in which the twogroups would need to cooperate toachieve a common goal

After a series of joint efforts, the rivalry

diminished and the groups becamefriends.

1906-1988


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Robbers Cave

Overcoming the strong we/they effect

establishment of superordinate goals

e.g., breakdown in camp water supply

overcoming intergroup strife - research

stereotypes are diluted when people shareindividuating information

This idea used in the classroomThe JigsawMethod of cooperative learning. (see pg. 514)

P i i D i 3


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Patricia Devines 3-step

process to Individual Prejudice

Reduction1. Individuals must decide that prejudiced

responses are wrong and consciously reject

prejudice and stereotyped thinking2. They must internalize their nonprejudiced

beliefs so that they become an integral partof their personal self-concept

3. Individuals must learn to inhibit automaticprejudicial reactions and deliberatelyreplace them with nonprejudiced responsesthat are based on their personal standards

attitudes & prejudice

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