Individual sit and culture differences

• Social norms are the unwritten rules about what is socially acceptable and desirable within specific groups
• Social norms are part of the situation. They refer to the unwritten rules about what is socially acceptable and desirable within specific social groups. A part of

  social identity theory is that people follow social norms created by their in group because violation may lead to rejection. They wish to avoid rejections

  because group belonging is a strong motivator due to its link with self-esteem. Therefore, such norms can act as powerful situational influences
• Haldey Cantril (1941) suggested that this group identity, and thus socialisation by the group, is central to the formation of prejudiced views. Individuals

  become increasingly prejudiced as they internalise a group’s ‘frame of reference’
• ▪ Many studies have shown that the expression of prejudice and discrimination are influenced by social norms. For example, Ralph Minard (1952) noticed that

  the difference-in relations between black and white coal miners in the US. Below ground (when individuals identified as being a miner) they were friendly

  and worked well together whereas above ground (where they identified with their white and black social groups)they held negative views towards each

  other.
• Realistic conflict theory highlights the importance of competition in escalating prejudice
• Competition for limited resources is a situational factor, which results in prejudice
• Adorno et al identified nine specific authoritarian traits. He explained that children with authoritarian parents

  feel hostile towards the conditional love they are given. These children end up developing the authoritarian

  personality as they displace their anger towards their parents onto those who are socially inferior- scapegoating
• However Altemeyer focused on just three of Adorno’s nine authoritarian traits: submission, aggression and

  conventionalism.
• INDIVIDUALIST – they focus on ‘I’ they are self

  reliant and independent.
• COLLECTIVIST- they are interdependent, work

  towards collective goals, fairness.
• CHRISTOPHER ORPEN (1971) – notes the measures of social

  conformity, susceptibility to cultural pressure and adherence to culturally approved norms in white South Africans showed significant correlations of prejudice towards black South Africans. A problem is 16 year old students (who may have a stronger desire to fit in with social group).
• Individual factors affecting prejudice- the authoritarian personality, right wing authoritarian, social dominance orientation
• Situational factors affecting prejudice- social norms, competition and resource stress
• Cultural factors affecting obedience - the norm of intolerance, the norm of fairness
• Situational factors 

  • gradual commitment 
  • Proximity 
  • Legitimacy- status of authority 
  • Behaviour of others
• Gradual commitment 

  • binding relationship 
  • Trivial requests initially then request increases (duty bound to continue)
• Proximity - when distance increases obedience decreases, Latane uses term immediacy meaning closeness in space and time
• Legitimacy - status of authority 
• behaviour of others

  • exposure to role models who are disobedient decreases obedience 
• Cultural differences 

  • assumption - could different cultures have different levels of obedience 
  • Nature vs nurture 
  • Collective cultures - value loyalty to the group, duty, interdependence and cooperation in pursuit of group goals. About ‘we’
  • Individualist cultures - value personal autonomy (responsible for oneself) and self-reliance. About ‘I’.