Lecture on Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Discrimination

Introduction to Stereotyping

• Definition: Attributing a certain thought or cognition to a group, leading to overgeneralization.
• Examples: Glasses = intelligence, city dwellers = rudeness.
• Scope: Can involve race, gender, culture, religion, attire, etc.

Disadvantages and Advantages of Stereotyping

• Disadvantages: Inaccurate overgeneralizations.
• Advantages: Quick assessment of social information, useful for processing large amounts of data.

Stereotype Threat

• Definition: Exposure to a negative stereotype can decrease performance in affected individuals.
• Experiment Example:
  • Two groups, red and blue students, sit an exam.
  • Initially, both score equally.
  • When exposed to stereotypes about blue students' academic ability, blue students perform worse.

Cognitive-Affective-Behavioral Pathway

1. Cognition: Thought such as "city dwellers are rude."
   • Leads to avoidance of the group.
2. Affect: Emotional response, positive or negative.
   • "I don't like them" due to the stereotype.
3. Behavior: Action taken based on affect.
   • Avoidance, leading to discrimination.

Cycle of Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Discrimination

• From Stereotyping to Prejudice: Cognition leads to affect.
• From Prejudice to Discrimination: Affect leads to behavior.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

• Concept: Initial cognition (e.g., city dwellers are rude) becomes validated over time through one's actions.
• Feedback Loop:
  • Avoidance by one group leads the other group to perceive them as rude.
  • This cyclical process reinforces the initial stereotype.
• Result: The stereotype becomes a more entrenched belief due to repeated behavior and perception.

Conclusion

• Stereotyping involves cognitive, affective, and behavioral components.
• It can lead to prejudice and discrimination, and contribute to a self-fulfilling prophecy through positive feedback loops.