Social Psycology 360 - Final Exam
PSY 360 - FINAL EXAM
Short Essay Questions
1. What are minimal groups? How does group membership lead to prejudice and discrimination?
The minimal group is a bond of commonality, positive or negative, where relationships, of even an arbitrary or inconsequential nature, within the group can influence attitudes and subsequent behaviors. Membership in such groups often produces the strongest forms of prejudice and discrimination. At a base level college rivalries serve as good examples of how groups can become biased toward the in-group (members) even when such behavior is overt and contrary to an individual’s normal standard for formulating judgments. The reasons for such memberships are primarily related to self-esteem. Our need for acceptance drives us to belong and to uncritically follow group mentalities and behaviors, especially when such self-esteem is tied to winning.
Ultimately participation in such groups leverages influence, though often benign, due to the nature of the group’s common connection, but even when benign such groups are able to swing behavior in profound ways. For example, a college sports fan that is normally reserved and non-aggressive can be uncharacteristically out of control, potentially criminal amongst the tide of the group mentality, even developing unwarranted discriminatory attitudes towards anyone who attended a rival’s school.
2. What is modern racism, and how is it studied?
Aronson, Wilson and Akert define modern racism as outwardly acting unprejudiced while maintaining prejudiced attitudes. They see it as a softened expression rather than reality. For example, no longer are the risks inherent in the public exhibition of racism promulgated by bigots. They are often veiled in rationalized responses that promote their underlying bias without calling attention to or exposing the real root of their motivations. School desegregation in Raleigh, NC right now has become a battle over a busing issue that many
Short Essay Questions
1. What are minimal groups? How does group membership lead to prejudice and discrimination?
The minimal group is a bond of commonality, positive or negative, where relationships, of even an arbitrary or inconsequential nature, within the group can influence attitudes and subsequent behaviors. Membership in such groups often produces the strongest forms of prejudice and discrimination. At a base level college rivalries serve as good examples of how groups can become biased toward the in-group (members) even when such behavior is overt and contrary to an individual’s normal standard for formulating judgments. The reasons for such memberships are primarily related to self-esteem. Our need for acceptance drives us to belong and to uncritically follow group mentalities and behaviors, especially when such self-esteem is tied to winning.
Ultimately participation in such groups leverages influence, though often benign, due to the nature of the group’s common connection, but even when benign such groups are able to swing behavior in profound ways. For example, a college sports fan that is normally reserved and non-aggressive can be uncharacteristically out of control, potentially criminal amongst the tide of the group mentality, even developing unwarranted discriminatory attitudes towards anyone who attended a rival’s school.
2. What is modern racism, and how is it studied?
Aronson, Wilson and Akert define modern racism as outwardly acting unprejudiced while maintaining prejudiced attitudes. They see it as a softened expression rather than reality. For example, no longer are the risks inherent in the public exhibition of racism promulgated by bigots. They are often veiled in rationalized responses that promote their underlying bias without calling attention to or exposing the real root of their motivations. School desegregation in Raleigh, NC right now has become a battle over a busing issue that many
References: Aronson, E., Wilson, T. D., Akert, R. M. (2007) Social Psychology (6th Ed.).