PSY322H1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Subcategorization, Contact Hypothesis, Cognitive Dissonance
Document Summary
Chapter 2: origin and maintenance of stereotypes and prejudice. The humane brain seems to almost automatically classify or categorize similar objects in the environment. Pervasive; shown in children as young as 6 months old. Allport (1954): stereotypes as a natural consequence of cognition. Humans have a limited-capacity cognitive system and cannot simultaneously process all the available information in our social environment. The basis can be very logical or illogical. Basic/primitive categories (the most immediate and obvious features of an individual): race, gender, age. Occurs so quickly, virtually automatic and non-conscious. Merely being exposed to a face of a. White or black person or words associated with a gender group can instantaneously evoke the associated cognitions, beliefs, and feelings one has for that group. Ingroups (groups to which we belong) vs. outgroups (groups to which we do not belong) How you partition people in these groups depends on your current, salient motives, fears, goals and expectations.
