Essay outline for Topic 2 & 3

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Essay outline – “Reduction of Prejudice”

Prejudice: when we allow our stereotypes to affect our attitude.

Prejudice is an attitude whereas discrimination is a behavior. The term prejudice refers to the general attitude structure and its affective component. Prejudice can in fact be either negative or positive. Specifically, prejudice is defined as a hostile or negative attitude toward people in a distinguishable group. When the prejudiced attitude leads to prejudiced action, this is called discrimination. The origin of prejudice and discrimination is conflict and stereotype. A stereotype is a generalization about a particular group of people in which identical characteristics are assigned to all members of that group, regardless of any variation among group members. However, there are a variety of different factors that could reduce prejudice and discrimination:

        Co-operation over superordinate goals can reduce prejudice. A superordinate goal is a goal that neither group can achieve separately, but can achieve together since it is bigger than or more important than other lesser goals. This idea is supported by a study of Sherif, the Robber’s Cave Experiment (1958). The aim of this study was not only to find out how the hostility relates to the amount of conflict, but also to see if superordinate goals reduce the conflict and prejudice. He had 20 boys of the age of 11 to 12 who had similar background and were considered normal and ordinary. The study was carried out in Robber’s Cave State Park, Oklahoma. The boys stayed at the camp, which was called a boy scout camp, for 3 weeks and were randomly divided into two groups.

▶Argument 1: Co-operation over superordinate goals reduces prejudice. (pursuit of common goals)

Superordinate goal: a goal that neither group can achieve separately, but can achieve together since it is bigger than or more important than other lesser goals.

        Exp) Sherif’s Robber’s Cave experiment (1958)

-Hypothesis: more intense competition (conflict↑), more hostility. But when conflicts are reduced, hostility would decrease and cooperation will increase.

-Methods: Design: Field experiment

Participants: 20 boys, 11~12 years old with similar background and same grade level. They were considered normal and ordinary.

Materials: A boy scout camp in the Robber’s Cave, State Park, Oklahoma.

Procedure: 1. Evenly distributed boys, divided into 2 groups named ‘Eagles’, ‘Rattlers’. Boys didn’t know about each other’s group. They were completely separated.

2. (Phase 1, preliminary/pre-test phase) Sherif sets up games for each group. The boys got to know the members of their own group. Leader emerged. (→for loyalty, commitment, identification)

3. (Phase 2, competitive/hostility phase) Boys meet each other. Sherif gives them conflict saying the winning team wins a prize. The boys became hostile, called names, burned flags, carried out raids, fist fought. They also praised their own members.

4. (Phase 3, superordinate goals)

 3 superordinate goals were given:

a. Truck was stuck in the mud,

b. water supply was cut,

c. the boys were brought to the movies and were asked to collect money.

The boys became less hostile and started making friends.

-Results: in the hostility phase, 93% had friends within their own group, after the cooperation phase, 30% had friends between the two groups. Before the cooperation phase, Eagles: 7%, Rattlers: 5% had friends in the other group. After the cooperation phase, Eagles: 25%, Rattlers 37% had friends in the other group.

-Evaluation: (+) high ecological validity (field exp.)

(-) had no consent → ethical issues

(-) Gender & culturally biased. Cannot be generalized

(-) argument – Tajfel & Turner “According to the Social Identity Theory, hostility can emerge just by creating groups”

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Cooperation or working toward a common goal that is greater than the immediate needs or concerns of opposing groups can thus help create a sense of membership to a single, larger group and reduce conflict.

▶Argument 2: Co-operation in the classroom reduces prejudice. (intergroup contact)

        Exp) Aronson et al (1978), the Jigsaw Classroom Study

-Aim: to see if cooperation in a classroom reduces prejudice

-Method: Participants: American students from different cultures

Materials: an American classroom, where there is a lot of competition

Procedure: 1. Aronson introduced the jigsaw classroom technique: in small groups, each individual contributes one section ...

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