factors affecting prejudice (and discrimination)

• AO1: Individual Differences Authoritarian personality Adorno et al (1950) –describes people with an authoritarian personality as rigid in their thinking, obedient to authority, seeing the world in black and white, and adhering to social hierarchy and rules. Strict parenting and the idea of punishment can lead to scapegoating towards others.
• AO1: Individual Differences - Right wing authoritarianism (RWA) focuses on 3 of the nine traits which make up authoritarian personality. Altemeyer (1988) believed RWA was a product of early social learning rather than strict parenting. This personality type develops as a reaction to fear and uncertainty, seeking security through preserving existing social order. Overly suspicious and hostile towards anyone who defies the norm or seems different.
• Individual Differences - AO3: Evaluation Cohrs et al (2012) Investigation into individual differences and prejudice. Opportunity sample of 193 people aged 18-67 years old from diverse social backgrounds in Germany (all able-bodied, heterosexual and German nationals). Participants completed questionnaires which measured RWA and prejudice about attitudes towards homosexuality, foreigners and people with disabilities. Findings showed significant correlations between RWA and generalised prejudice. RWA and authoritarian personality may be useful predictors for prejudice.
• AO1: Situational Factors Social norms refer to unwritten rules about what is desirable and normal within a particular society. For example societies have different unwritten rules about communicating with strangers when commuting. If you do not adhere to the rules of the group this may lead to rejection, whereas following the norms increases self-esteem. Creating a group identity means you internalise a groups frame of reference and are likely to be prejudiced against those who do not fit in. (social identity theory).
• AO1: Situational Factors - Realistic conflict theory highlighted competition as important in escalating prejudice. Prejudice can increase if the situation is one where there is direct competition for limited commodities such as jobs and money. This is further heightened if it is seen as zero sum.
• situational factors AO3: Evaluation Akrami (2009) experimentally manipulated social norms. Some participants heard the statement that “discrimination against women is no longer an issue in Sweden”.The participants who were exposed to this “social norm” demonstrated significantly lower levels of sexism than a control group.
• situational factors - AO3: Filindra and Pearson-Merkowitz (2013) Carried out examination of data to see if when a dominant white majority perceives a threat there is more prejudice and discrimination. They found that a perceived increase in presence of immigrants in the community correlated with an immigration policy with more restrictions. This was only the case in times of economic hardship and therefore shows that competition for resources does cause prejudice.
• AO1: Culture Norm of tolerance: Culture can influence prejudice, Baldwin (2017) stated all people believe that their culture is better than others (ethnocentrism). Where cultures are more tolerant discrimination may exist in more covert ways (benevolent intolerance/prejudice, microaggressions), some cultures might have more open discrimination and even legal prejudices against certain groups – the Apartheid was legal in South Africa, meaning there were different laws for white and black people until 1991. Norm of fairness:
• AO1: Cultures may also differ in prejudice due to being individualistic rather than collectivist. Collectivist cultures tend to be more focused on sharing and cooperation so this might reduce discrimination, whilst those who are more individualistic might be more likely to discriminate.
• AO3 - culture: Margaret Wetherell (1982) conducted a replication of Tajfel’s experiment using 8-year-old school children in New Zealand. She found that indigenous Polynesian children were significantly more generous in their allocation of points to outgroup members than the Caucasian children Therefore collectivist cultures are more focused on sharing and cooperation, thus reducing their level of discrimination.