generalization about a group of people; certain traits are assigned to all members of a group regardless of variations

cognitive component (thoughts)

attitude or feeling toward a group of people

affective component (feelings)

unequal treatment based on group membership

behavioral component

Rohan and Zanna (1996)

influence of caregivers

parents with egalitarian (believe in equality) attitudes - adult children with egalitarian values

parents with prejudiced attitudes - adult children were not always prejudiced

what is correct, acceptable, permissable in society

list of 105 targets of prejudice

participants rated each group as: Definitely OK to have negative feelings about this group, Maybe it's OK, Definitely not OK

Fiske et al. (2002): Stereotype Content Model

stereotypes about groups depend on two factors: perceived warmth and competance

High/High- admiration (pride); in-group, allies

Low/Low- contemptuous prejudice (resentment); poor

High Warmth/Low- paternalistic prejudice (pity); elderly, people with disabilities

High compet/Low- envious prejudice (jealousy); rich 

Hebl et al (2002)

confederates applied for jobs in a mall

"Gay and Proud" vs "Texan and Proud" hats

Formal discrimination- no difference between conditions

Informal discrimination- more towards stigmatized ("Gay and Proud")

Religious orientations

Batson et al. (1986)

Religion as end- religion guides every behavior

religion as quest- religion is questionning, not accepting; a journey

Self report- both groups are low in prejudice

Actual measure- religion as end group shows higher prejudice

black children (ages 6-9) shown a white and black doll

children associated white doll with "good" characteristics

Goldberg (1968)

participants saw the author was either a man or woman (same article)

rated the article higher in competence and writing style when the author was a man

Bertrand and Mullainathan (2004)

sent 5000 resumes to 1200 job ads

applicants had same qualifications, different names

white names= 75% called back

black names= 20% called back

The Contact Hypothesis

Allport (1954)- increased contact between groups to decrease bias

unselfish helping, sometimes involves cost to the helper;

some believe this does not exist

examines costs and rewards of helping

rewards- reciprocity, relieves distress of helpee and helper, social approval

costs- physical danger, pain, embarrassment, time

when we feel empathy toward another person, we will help him/her altruistically

-if we do not feel empathy, self-concern is more important

Men are more likely to help in heroic/chivalrous situations

Women are more likely to help in situations involving long-term support

Women more likely to receieve help

Helping and Mood

Isen and Levin (1972)

-put participants in a positive mood by leaving dimes in  coin return of public phones

After finding the dime, a confederate dropped a folder full of papers

Found dime= 80% helped

No dime= 5% helped

Attacked for 45 minutes, eventually killed

38 residents heard screams

One person called the police

greater number of people, less likely that any of them will help

(Latane and Darley 1970)

Five Steps of Helping

(Latane and Darley 1970)

1. Notice the event

2. Interpret the event as an emergency

3. Assume responsibility

4. Knowing how to help

5. Decide to help

*Failure at any step - no help provided

What would prevent helping?

2. Interpreting event as an emergency - pluralistic ignorance

3. Assume responsibility - diffusion of responsibility

5. Deciding to help - costs outweigh benefits

Role of provocation

(being provoked)

Frustration can increase the likelihood of aggression

Frustration increases when the person gets closer to their goal

Bandura (1961, 1963) Bobo Doll Studies

The role of violent media

Violent media - agressive behavior

1. If they can do it, so can I (inhibitions)

2. Oh, so that's how you do it (imitation)

3. Those feelings I'm having must be real anger rather than simply a stressful day (priming)

4. Ho-hum, another brutal beating (desensitization)

5. I had better get him before he gets me (perceptions fo the world)

Punishment - doesn't typically work

Catharsis - venting anger

Allowing the anger to dissipate

Apologizing

Modeling non-aggressive behavior

Communication and problem solving skills

Empathy

Ohbuchi et al. (1993)

Empathy

Students were told to shock another student as part of a learning experiment

Cond 1- Victims revealed something personal about themselves (more likely to evoke empathy)

Cond 2- Victims did not reveal anything

Results- more likely to administer shock in cond 2

People who interact and are interdependent (3+ people)

Their needs/goals cause the individuals to influence each other

Join groups to fulfill basic needs and define who we are

In presence of others, tendency to perform better on simple tasks and worse on complex tasks

-when individual performance can be evaluated

-increase alertness

-evaluation apprehension (concerned about what others are thinking

-distraction

-relaxation (social loafing)

In presence of others, tendency to do worse on simple tasks and better on complex tasks

-when individual performance cannot be evaluated

Loosening of normal constraints on behavior when people can't be identified

-less individual accountability

-greater obedience to group norms

Groupthink

(Irving Janis 1972, 1982)

Occurs when maintaing group solidarity/cohesiveness is more important than considering the facts in a realistic manner

-often results in poor decision making