Reducing Prejudice and Discrimination

Chapter 12

Prepared by Saterfield for Whitley & Kite, 2008

Reducing Prejudice and Discrimination

Principle:

•Prejudice and discrimination are rooted in normal human psychological processes

•Unavoidable behaviors

•Pre-existing prejudice can be changeable

Individual Level Processes

•Theories of prejudice reduction focus on cognitive and emotional processes

•Changes in intergroup attitudes

Individual Level Processes

• Stereotype Suppression–Rebound effect

•return of suppressed thoughts–Stereotype rebound

•People suppress stereotypes while they are focusing on doing so, however, the stereotypes come back with greater force once people stop trying to suppress them.•Effect increases accessibility of stereotypes•Improves memory for stereotypic information•Decreases attention to individuating information•Increases stereotype used•Affects behavior toward stereotyped groups.

– Example

Individual Level Processes

•Stereotype Suppression–Why do stereotypes rebound?

•Makes them more readily available for use when suppression is lifted•Suppression requires cognitive effort•Creates a need to use it and this need is manifested in the rebound effect

–Are rebound effects inevitable?

Individual Level Processes

•Stereotype Suppression–Are rebound effects inevitable?

•Low in prejudice •Highly motivated to suppress stereotypic thoughts•Avoid stereotype rebound because of egalitarian beliefs provide easily accessible replacements for stereotypic thought

Individual Level Processes Self-Regulation Model

• Developing cues for the control of prejudice• Using cures to control prejudice• Automatic control of prejudice• Self-regulation in action