Overview
This lecture explains the differences between the psychological concepts of stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination, using the "ABCs" model: Affect, Behavior, and Cognition.
The ABCs Framework in Psychology
- The ABCs stand for Affect (feelings), Behavior (actions), and Cognition (thoughts/beliefs).
- Each term—prejudice, discrimination, stereotype—maps to one component of the ABCs.
Prejudice: Affect/Attitude
- Prejudice refers to positive or negative attitudes toward a social group.
- It is typically associated with negative feelings, but can also be positive (e.g., "I love Canadians").
- Prejudice is the "affect" or "attitude" component of ABCs.
Discrimination: Behavior
- Discrimination is treating someone differently based on their group membership.
- It reflects biased actions, such as tipping white waiters more than Black waiters.
- Discrimination is the "behavior" component of ABCs.
Stereotypes: Cognition/Belief
- Stereotypes are beliefs or assumptions about the characteristics of a group.
- Example: believing "librarians are old" or "Canadians are always smiling."
- Stereotypes are the "cognition" or "belief" component of ABCs.
How the Concepts Interact
- Stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination are often related but do not always co-occur.
- One can have stereotypes without prejudice or discrimination, and vice versa.
- Psychologists study when these concepts align and when they do not to understand social behavior better.
Practice: Identifying Terms
- "Librarians are old" and "Teenagers don't work hard" are stereotypes (beliefs).
- "I hate gamers" and "I love southerners" are examples of prejudice (attitudes).
Key Terms & Definitions
- Affect — Emotional feelings or moods.
- Prejudice — Positive or negative overall attitude toward a social group.
- Behavior — Observable actions or treatment of others.
- Discrimination — Biased behavior toward people based on group membership.
- Cognition — Mental processes involving thoughts and beliefs.
- Stereotype — Generalized beliefs or expectations about a social group.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the definitions and differences between stereotype, prejudice, and discrimination.
- Practice identifying examples of each in everyday situations.