Race & EthnicityPART 2 – STEREOTYPES, PREJUDICES, & DISCRIMINATION

C H R I S T I N E M O N N I E R

StereotypeOvergeneralizations about the appearance, behavior, or other characteristics of members of particular categories.

PrejudiceA prejudice is a negative attitude based on faulty generalizations about members of specific racial, ethnic, or other groups.

RacismRacism is a set of attitudes, beliefs, and practices that is used to justify the superior treatment of one racial or ethnic group and the inferior treatment of another racial or ethnic group.

Theories of PrejudiceFrustration-Aggression / Scapegoating

Social Learning

The Authoritarian Personality

DiscriminationDiscrimination involves actions or practices of dominant-group members (or their representatives) that have a harmful effect on members of a subordinate group.

DiscriminationIndividual: one-on-one acts by members of the dominant group that harm members of the subordinate group or their property.

Institutional: the day-to-day practices of organizations and institutions that have a harmful effect on members of subordinate groups.

DiscriminationMerton’s Typology of attitude v. behavior Prejudiced Attitude?

Yes No

Discriminatory Behavior?

Yes Prejudiced discriminator Unprejudiced discriminator

No Prejudiced non-discriminator

Unprejudiced non-discriminator

DiscriminationJoe Feagin’s four major types of discrimination:

1. Isolate discrimination

2. Small-group discrimination

3. Direct institutionalized discrimination

4. Indirect institutionalized discrimination