Prejudice & Discrimination Reduction

1
Prejudice Discrimination Reduction

• Social Contact
• Increasing the contact between members of groups
  where there is a lack of knowledge which has led
  to prejudice or discrimination.

2
Social contact....

• Sherif- Robbers cave (1961)
• Aim Investigate inter-group conflict
• Method Field experiment
• Procedure Two groups of boys aged 12 split into
  two groups on a camping trip both developed group
  norms by calling themselves Rattlers Eagles.
• FindingsBoth groups became competitive and
  hostile, the more aggressive boys became leaders.

3
Evaluation of Social Contact.

• ADVANTAGE
• Bringing people together is not enough to
  breakdown prejudices and stereotypes.

• DISADVANTAGE
• However by increasing contact in groups
  stereotypes will be challenged and prejudiced can
  be reduced.

4
Prejudice Discrimination Reduction.

• Co-operation.
• Give the two opposing groups a task to complete.
• This enables the group members to see each other
  as individuals rather than members of a group.

5
Co-operation......

• Aronson (1978) The jigsaw Method.
• Aim Investigate conflict between groups in
  schools.
• Method Field experiment
• Procedure Class divided into groups irrespective
  of their ethnicity, each member of the group was
  given a piece of the jigsaw to research and then
  report back to the group. At the end all were
  tested on their knowledge.
• Findings Those who took part in the jigsaw
  method showed increases in self esteem and
  reduction in prejudices toward other group
  members.

6
Evaluation of Co-operation.

• Advantages.
• Positive but small effects.

• Disadvantages.
• Method does not eliminate competition.

7
Prejudice Discrimination Reduction.

• Creating Empathy
• Experiencing the effects of prejudice and
  discrimination may help to change attitudes
  towards the group.

8
Creating Empathy....

• Jane Elliot (1977) Blue eyes brown eyes.
• Aim Change prejudiced attitudes.
• MethodField experiment.
• ProcedureElliot divided her class of 9 year olds
  into two groups blue and brown eyes.She told the
  blue eyed group they were more intelligent and
  would be given extra privileges. The group
  started to behave according to their stereotypes
  and produce better work and treat the brown
  students badly, whilst the brown eyed children
  acted angry and depressed.
• The next day she told them she had made a mistake
  and reversed her procedure.
• FindingsWhen the students were contacted 18
  years later they appeared more tolerant of
  differences and more opposed to prejudice.

9
Evaluation of Creating Empathy.

• Advantages.
• In use with children this is good as they have
  flexible views.

• Disadvantages.
• Creating empathy in those with prejudicial views
  maybe difficult.