CRITICIAL ANALYSIS

Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Intergroup Discrimination

Table of Content

Introduction3

Group conformity, prejudice, and discrimination3

Intergroup similarity4

Intergroup similarity and in-group norms5

Case Study5

Method5

Participants5

Procedure6

Intergroup similarity6

In-group norm7

Results7

Manipulation checks7

Perception of in-group norm7

Perceived similarity8

Discussion & Conclusion8

References10

Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Intergroup Discrimination

Introduction

Social norms and conformity have been assumed to determine prejudice and discrimination since the early investigations in social psychology, and have recently benefited from a renewed interest. However, little effort has been devoted to examine potential moderators of the normative influence process. Understanding the factors affecting social influence is important to determine the boundary conditions under which norms are likely to influence prejudiced attitudes and behaviour. The present research examined whether the perception of intergroup similarity, to the extent that it may cause a threat to in-group distinctiveness, is likely to moderate the influence of in-group norms on prejudice and discrimination.

Group conformity, prejudice, and discrimination

Several factors can moderate conformity to the in-group norm, such as its contextual salience, the willingness to attenuate individual-norm discrepancies, the individual's motive for a positive self-image, or in-group identification. Furthermore, factors affecting one's interests or identity, such as realistic or symbolic threat, may not only determine prejudice and discrimination directly but also moderate conformity to an in-group norm. Indeed, the nature of intergroup relations will also lead participants to support either the pro-discrimination or the anti-discrimination behaviour endorsed by the group or by its leaders. For instance, Brubaker (2001) found that nationals' perception that foreigners threatened their economic resources (i.e. employment) induced changes in their individual level of discrimination but also moderated the influence of contextually salient norms. Specifically, the anti-discrimination in-group norm reduced participants' in-group bias only when the perceived threat was low.

Intergroup similarity

Social identity theory (Caddick, 1982) proposes that people derive their individual self-concepts and self-esteem from their group memberships and that they struggle to achieve positive comparisons between their in-group and relevant outgroups. This theory points out a motivational process underlying intergroup discrimination: in-group members seek to differentiate their own group from relevant out-groups in order to preserve a distinct sense of self and to protect their group's integrity.

Intergroup similarity and in-group norms

In the present research, we argue that in-group similarity will interact with in-group norms. Intergroup similarity may be particularly threatening when strengthened by ingroup norms that prescribe an egalitarian and undifferentiated treatment between the in-group and the out-group (i.e. anti-discrimination norm). Since an anti-discrimination norm emphasizes the importance of equal treatment for everyone regardless of social category, intergroup similarity may increase the distinctiveness threat and discrimination specifically when the in-group norm prescribes anti-discrimination. Accordingly, anti-discriminatory in-group norms may obtain some influence when intergroup similarity is low, but may paradoxically lead to higher levels of prejudice and discrimination when intergroup similarity is high (Cullen, 1992).

Case Study

Method

Participants

Seventy-nine persons (39 males, mean age ¼ 30:06 years, SD ¼ 11:26) voluntarily participated in this study. They were recruited on the campus of the University of Western Australia (31 were students). All participants were Indian nationals, and 33 of them had a second nationality. However, as nationality did not have any effect on ...