Prejudice and Discrimination
Stereotypes are the labels we give to individuals based on certain characteristics e.g. what they wear, where they are from. These usually come from little or no information, and often have negative connotations.
Prejudice is the attitude we have towards an individual/group that comes from our stereotypes. IT is the thought process e.g. thinking that boys are better at football than girls.
Discrimination is the action that occurs from our prejudice. This can be excluding people or treating them differently. E.g. not allowing girls to play football.
Social Identity Theory
This theory proposed by Tajfel explains that the simple act of grouping leads to prejudice. Individuals have a range of different ‘selves’ which shape their identity and form their group membership. Groups an individual belong to are seen as their in group, and those they don’t belong to are the out group. There are 3 steps for how prejudice occurs based on this theory:
Social categorisation: belonging to a group e.g. fan of Plymouth Argyle
Social identification: taking on the identity of the group e.g. the beliefs, norms, dress. E.g. wearing an Argyle football shirt
Social comparison: The in group compares themselves to the out group. In order to boost self esteem, the in group must see themselves as better. This is known as in group favouritism, and they will seek ways of putting down the out group. E.g. Torquay United are rubbish
This ‘them and us’ situation is learnt from a young age and attitudes may occur without personal contact of the out group.
Evaluation
Supporting evidence
Sherif supports SIT because the boys in the camp showed in group favouritism towards boys in their team and prejudice towards the other team where they called each other names and the discrimination whereby the Eagles burnt the Rattlers flag, and the Rattlers ransacked the Eagles cabin.
This study is has high ecological validity due to it being a field study and the boys being unaware they were in an experiment.
Opposing evidence
It doesn’t take into account other factors – it does not measure situations of greater prejudice or that a number of factors are usually involved e.g motivation, emotion
Cultural differences – different tribes often live alongside each other in harmony. Prejudice usually based on long term historical and political contexts. Research evidence based on artificially created situations so may be short lived
Belonging to a group does not necessarily lead to identifying with the group – some people have greater identity to a group than others do.
Different explanation
Other explanations suggest it is the competition rather than just grouping that leads to prejudice – this is the realistic conflict theory. This states that prejudice only occurs when there is a need for competition and lack of resources.
Application
Provides useful application e.g. why violence occurs between local football teams when they play each other or riots that occur with different groups. By understanding this theory it provides a way in which the prejudice can be reduced e.g. common in group identity model: identifying common goals with the 2 groups such as uniting when rival football team also play for the country or racial groups working together in the community.
Stereotypes are the labels we give to individuals based on certain characteristics e.g. what they wear, where they are from. These usually come from little or no information, and often have negative connotations.
Prejudice is the attitude we have towards an individual/group that comes from our stereotypes. IT is the thought process e.g. thinking that boys are better at football than girls.
Discrimination is the action that occurs from our prejudice. This can be excluding people or treating them differently. E.g. not allowing girls to play football.
Social Identity Theory
This theory proposed by Tajfel explains that the simple act of grouping leads to prejudice. Individuals have a range of different ‘selves’ which shape their identity and form their group membership. Groups an individual belong to are seen as their in group, and those they don’t belong to are the out group. There are 3 steps for how prejudice occurs based on this theory:
Social categorisation: belonging to a group e.g. fan of Plymouth Argyle
Social identification: taking on the identity of the group e.g. the beliefs, norms, dress. E.g. wearing an Argyle football shirt
Social comparison: The in group compares themselves to the out group. In order to boost self esteem, the in group must see themselves as better. This is known as in group favouritism, and they will seek ways of putting down the out group. E.g. Torquay United are rubbish
This ‘them and us’ situation is learnt from a young age and attitudes may occur without personal contact of the out group.
Evaluation
Supporting evidence
Sherif supports SIT because the boys in the camp showed in group favouritism towards boys in their team and prejudice towards the other team where they called each other names and the discrimination whereby the Eagles burnt the Rattlers flag, and the Rattlers ransacked the Eagles cabin.
This study is has high ecological validity due to it being a field study and the boys being unaware they were in an experiment.
Opposing evidence
It doesn’t take into account other factors – it does not measure situations of greater prejudice or that a number of factors are usually involved e.g motivation, emotion
Cultural differences – different tribes often live alongside each other in harmony. Prejudice usually based on long term historical and political contexts. Research evidence based on artificially created situations so may be short lived
Belonging to a group does not necessarily lead to identifying with the group – some people have greater identity to a group than others do.
Different explanation
Other explanations suggest it is the competition rather than just grouping that leads to prejudice – this is the realistic conflict theory. This states that prejudice only occurs when there is a need for competition and lack of resources.
Application
Provides useful application e.g. why violence occurs between local football teams when they play each other or riots that occur with different groups. By understanding this theory it provides a way in which the prejudice can be reduced e.g. common in group identity model: identifying common goals with the 2 groups such as uniting when rival football team also play for the country or racial groups working together in the community.