Applied Cross-Cultural Psychology

1
Applied Cross-Cultural Psychology

• Chapter 12

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Prejudice

• (1) preconceived judgment or opinion
• (2) an adverse opinion or leaning formed
  without just grounds or before sufficient
  knowledge b an instance of such judgment or
  opinion c an irrational attitude of hostility
  directed against an individual, a group, a race,
  or their supposed characteristics (Merriam
  Dictionary, 2005)

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Causes of Prejudice

• Ethnocentrism
• When faced w/ perceived conflict, people think
  they are being threatened or deprived by a target
  group
• It is learned like everything else
• Displaced aggression e.g., economic depression

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Origins of Prejudice

• Socialization passed from caregivers to
  children
• Social Benefits often brings support from
  others who share the same prejudice that may
  result in loss of support if not maintained
• Economic Benefits Justification of
  Discrimination arises when people are in direct
  competition for jobs

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Prejudice Racism

• Prejudice and racism describe ways in which
  people devalue, disadvantage, demean, and in
  general, unfairly treat others. (In Prejudice
  and Racism Jones, 1997)

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Ethnic Prejudice

• Ethnic prejudice is an antipathy based upon a
  faulty and inflexible generalization. It may be
  felt or expressed. It may be directed toward a
  group as a whole or toward an individual because
  he is a member of that group.
• (In The Nature of Prejudice Allport 1954)

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Allport Revisited

• Two important elements in his definition of
  prejudice
• Prejudice is a negative attitude
• Prejudice puts the object of prejudice at an
  unjust disadvantage (i.e., prejudice is negative,
  unjust, and a source of disadvantage for its
  targets)
• Note Prejudice is not just about ethnicity e.g.
  sexism, homophobia, ableism, religionism,
  classism, geographicism, adultism, etc.

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Theories for Reducing Prejudice

• Education, self-esteem, and religious/spiritual
  conversion (prob. w/ Dutch Reform Church
  Apartheid)
• Contact hypothesis (prob. w/cliques)
• Law (Title IX, Affirmative Action, Prop. 187,
  English Only)
• Working toward a common goal

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Reducing Prejudice and Conflict

• Groups must have equal legal status, economic
  opportunities, and power.
• Authorities and community institutions must
  endorse egalitarian norms and provide moral
  support and legitimacy for both sides.
• Both sides must have opportunities to work and
  socialize together, formally and informally.
• Both sides must cooperate, working together for a
  common goal.