Transcript ESJ Theory
ESJ Theory
International Step by Step Association
Internalized oppression stereotypes Thoughts + feelings prejudices discrimination oppression
Researchas suggest that prejudices and stereotypes
are not limited to a few pathological or misguided individuals
They are outgrowths of normal human functioning,
all people are susceptible to one extent or another
Homo Stereotypus
animal predisposed to prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination, but with the capacity to overcome these biases if motivated to do so (Blair, 2002; Fiske, 2000; Monteith & Voils, 2001).
Stereotypes are defined as
generalizations,
schematic and rigid perceptions
attributed to the members of a certain group - transferred and applied rigidly to every single member of the given group.
Stereotypes are also described as:
Irrational generalizations/etiquettes
Expression and rationalization of prejudices
Mental shortcuts
applied when people are busy or distracted (Gilbert & Hixon, 1991).
Prejudices are defined as
specific types of
attitudes
characterized by a relatively permanent, subjective position toward certain entities
judgments
that: - Are not based on factual or logical argumentation - Are resilient to change - Are characterized by a strong emotional component
Prejudice is an attitude characterized by three basic components:
Cognitive
(what we think, opinions)
Emotional
(what we feel, and is related to our thinking)
Connotative
(what we do as a result of our thinking and feelings
The roots of prejudices and stereotypes
Personality factors "authoritarian personality"
rigid thinkers obey authority see the world as black and white enforce strict adherence to social rules and hierarchies right-wing and social dominance orientation
The Authoritarian Personality,
Adorno(1950)
Cognitive factors
The Nature of Prejudice, Gordon Allport (1954)
Categorical Thinking
Prejudice/stereotypes are partly an outgrowth of normal human functioning although they have emotional, social, economic, and historic dimensions
The human mind must think with the aid of cathegories
Categories are the basis for normal prejudgment.
We need to keep in mind that
Social categories form an indispensable part of human thought, but because attributes such as race, sex, and age lie along a continuum, social labels are never more than approximations
.
intriguing and important consequence of categorical thinking Assimilation and Contrast
tendency to distort perceptions minimizing differences within categories ("assimilation") exaggerating differences between categories ("contrast")
It means that
differences within groups will tend to be minimized differences between groups will tend to be exaggerated Distortion is highly resistant to change
DIE MODEL, Milton Benett D I E
potential
DISCRIMINATION
D - description I Interpretation E - Evaluation
Social factors
1. Outgroup Homogeneity effect
when it comes to attitudes, values, personality traits, and other characteristics, people tend to see outgroup members as more alike than ingroup members
As a result
Outgroup members are at risk of being seen as interchangeable or expendable
ingroup appears to have a diverse assortment of individuals, and an outgroup appears relatively
The perception of sameness holds true regardless of whether the outgroup is another race, religion, nationality, college major, or other naturally occurring group
(Linville, 1998)
EXPLANATIONS
People usually have more contact with ingroup members They tend to organize and recall information about ingroups in terms of persons rather than abstract characteristics (Ostrom, Carpenter, Sedikides, & Li, 1993; Park & Judd, 1990). They are more motivated to make distinctions among ingroup members with whom they will have future contact
Tajfel: the "minimal group procedure ” an experimental technique
groups formed on the basis of almost any distinction(even on the basis of minimal information without knowing each other) are prone to ingroup bias.
people tend to see their own group as superior to other groups
they seek to maintain an advantage over other groups
"implicit egotism" unconscious preference for things associated with the self concept and identity ( Pelham)
2. Causal Attributions
The way how ingroup and outgroup members explain each other's behavior These explanations, are both a symptom and source of prejudice.
people often make uncharitable attributions for the behavior of outgroup members
They do this in at least three ways:
a) Just-World Attribution in an Unjust World causal attributions implicitly follow a "just world" ideology that assumes people get what they deserve and deserve what they get (Lerner, 1980; Montada & Lerner, 1998).
b) The Fundamental Attribution Error
general tendency to attribute behavior to dispositional causes(Ross, 1977).
c) The Ultimate Attribution Error
(1) (2) (a) (b) (c) (d) ingroup members attribute negative outgroup behavior to dispositional causes (more than they would for identical ingroup behavior), attribute positive outgroup behavior to one or more of the following causes: a fluke or exceptional case, luck or special advantage, high motivation and effort, and situational factors.
RESULT
makes it virtually impossible for outgroup members to break free of prejudice against them, because their positive actions are explained away while their failures and shortcomings are used against them.
Motivational factors
Research indicates
when people experience a drop in self-esteem, they become more likely to express prejudice
“Social identity theory,"
Tajfel
people maintain their self-esteem in part by identifying with groups and believing that the groups they belong to are better than other groups (Tajfel, 1981; Tajfel & Turner, 1986).
Function of Stereotypes and Prejudices 1.
Giving the meaning and understanding to the world around us
“fills out the emptiness”, completes insufficient information provides the feeling predictability and clarity of certainty,
2. Valuing the group we belong to
"Ultimately, many forms of discrimination and bias may develop not because outgroups are hated, but because positive emotions such as admiration, sympathy, and trust are reserved for the ingroup." Marilyn Brewer (1999, p. 438)
3.
Valuing other groups, their characteristics and their ways of functioning
4. Rationalizating discrimination against the members of other groups
Process of Developing Stereotypes and Prejudices proceeds in three steps:
1.
2.
3.
Creation of “discernible” categories Creation of incorrect generalizations about the whole group Behaving toward the members of a certain group in accordance with generalized views (discrimination).
IMPORTANT
Awareness
about the
differences
and process of categorization and generalization are natural cognitive processes Developing a
negative attitude/relation
toward the ones who are different is not part of natural cognitive functioning
Effects of Stereotypes and Prejudices
Self-fulfilling Prophecies 3 steps
An individual or entire group is
labeled
We begin to behave in accordance with the label that was attributed. Our behavior could be very explicit or implicit That individual/group begins to behave in accordance with the label which only asserts our original label and strengthens our opinion that all along we were right.
The Mechanism “Blame the Victim” (Ryan, 1976)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Problem and the population stricken by it are defined Value systems, culture and typical behaviors of the population with the problem and the one without it are compared, usually through stereotyping Cause for the problem is placed within the differences between the population with problem and the one without it Implementation of actions aimed at changing the “problem” population.
This mechanism
place the root of social problems in the groups suffering instead of placing the root of these problems within a system that is oppressive in various ways and that creates unequal opportunities and possibilities for different groups.
This mechanism
actually serves to reinforce the prejudices and rationalize discrimination, i.e. unequal treatment of different groups. is often the very essence of many interventions aimed at vulnerable groups, like actions aimed at changing the characteristics of at risk groups rather than changing the circumstances causing these groups to be vulnerable and treated unequally.
5 steps from gossiping to genocide Olport
1. Gossiping and stereotyping 2. Social distance 3. Discrimination 4. Physical attack 5. Genocide
What can we do trough ESJ?
Starting points
Prejudices and stereotypes are thinking patterns that are acquired, and are explicitly or implicitly transmitted through the institutional system
While prejudices and stereotypes are typically learned passively, unlearning them must be done actively
Every one of us carries his/her own “baggage of stereotypes and prejudices”
Becoming aware of one’s own prejudices and stereotypes represents a necessary step in overcoming/eliminating them
What can we do trough ESJ?
Starting points
Observing objectively, which is quite different from interpreting and evaluating, is the first step forward
For the beginning, it is enough to abstain from acting in accordance with prejudices, to create the space for careful and objective observation of oneself and others.
Deconstruction of DIE MODEL
ASSUMPTIONS HYPOTHESIS ASSUMPTIONS HYPOTHESIS ASSUMPTIONS HYPOTHESIS ASSUMPTIONS HYPOTHESIS
D I E