Question 1

Suppose that Paul is gay, but he does not fit your stereotype of gay people: He wears baggy jeans, constantly swears, has sloppy table manners, and enjoys sports. Instead of changing the way you think about gay people as a group, however, you just decide that Paul belongs to a special class of gay people ("gay jocks"). This would be an example of ____.

Accepted Answer

This would be an example of subtyping, which is when people create a subcategory for individuals who do not fit their stereotypes, rather than changing their overall stereotype. In this case, Paul is being subtyped as a "gay jock" because he does not fit the stereotype of gay people being effeminate and not interested in sports.

Question 2

Which of the following is the best definition of "discrimination"?

Accepted Answer

Discrimination refers to the unequal and unfair treatment of individuals based on the group they belong to. This can include differences in access to services, resources, and opportunities based on characteristics such as race, gender, age, or disability. Discrimination can arise from prejudiced attitudes or beliefs, but it also involves actions and behaviors that disadvantage certain groups. Therefore, option C provides the best definition of the term. The other options offer limited or incomplete descriptions and do not capture the full meaning of discrimination.

Question 3

In the ABCs of intergroup relationships, ____ can best be thought of as a behavior.

Accepted Answer

Discrimination is a behavior that involves treating people differently because of their perceived group membership. While prejudice, stereotyping, and racism can involve attitudes or beliefs, discrimination refers specifically to the actions taken based on those beliefs.

Question 4

The human tendency for rapid, pervasive social categorization is most in line with the idea of ____.

Accepted Answer

The cognitive miser refers to the idea that humans tend to conserve cognitive resources by relying on mental shortcuts or heuristics, such as social categorization, as a way to quickly make sense of the world around them. This tendency allows individuals to quickly categorize people into groups based on perceived similarities and differences, without expending too much cognitive effort.

Question 5

Based on the textbook's definitions of stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination, which of the following statements is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Based on the textbook's definitions of stereotyping,...

Question 6

Which of the following BEST qualifies as an example of prejudice?

Accepted Answer

Prejudice refers to the act of prejudging someone or something based on preconceived notions or stereotypes. In this case, Vera is displaying prejudice by assuming that all old people smell bad and feeling repulsed by the mere presence of an older person.

Question 7

As discussed in the textbook, stereotyping is best thought of as a(n) ____.

Accepted Answer

Stereotyping is a consequence of the human tendency for social categorization, as we try to simplify and structure the complex social world around us by grouping people into categories based on shared characteristics. This can lead to oversimplified, generalizations and assumptions about individuals based on their category membership, which can take the form of stereotypes. While stereotypes can be linked to prejudices or be a type of prejudice in some cases, they do not necessarily have to involve strong negative attitudes or feelings towards a particular group. Subtyping refers to the process of creating new subcategories to accommodate individuals who do not fit with the stereotype of their group, which is a related but distinct concept from stereotyping.

Question 8

According to the textbook, one critical reason why people hold on to their stereotypes-even in the face of refuting evidence-is that they tend to view pieces of refuting evidence as "exceptions," which constitute their own (new) categories. That is, they tend to create ____.

Accepted Answer

People tend to create subtypes, or subcategories, when they encounter refuting evidence that challenges their stereotypes. They view these exceptions as not fitting the original stereotype category, so they create new subcategories to explain away the inconsistencies.

Question 9

Aversive racism most captures the idea that ____.

Accepted Answer

Aversive racism refers to a type of subtle, unconscious prejudice that is experienced as discomfort or unease when interacting with members of an outgroup. This discomfort arises from a conflict between the individual's egalitarian values and their negative stereotypes or biases about the group. As a result, people may avoid interacting with the outgroup or engage in behaviors that reinforce the status quo (e.g., hiring someone from their own group for a job even if a more qualified candidate from a different group is available). This type of prejudice is often more prevalent among well-meaning individuals who are committed to equality but may have implicit biases they are not aware of.

Question 10

In terms of intergroup relationships, a stereotype can best be described as ____ and a prejudice as ____.

Accepted Answer

A stereotype is a cognitive process in which we categorize individuals into groups based on certain characteristics. On the other hand, prejudice involves negative attitudes and emotions towards individuals based on their group membership, which is more affective in nature. Therefore, option B is the correct choice as it correctly describes stereotypes as cognitions and prejudices as affects.

Question 11

Which of the following is the best definition of "stereotyping"?

Accepted Answer

Stereotyping refers to beliefs that associate groups of people with certain traits. It involves making assumptions about people based on their membership in a particular group without considering individual differences. While stereotyping can lead to negative attitudes or feelings towards individuals, it is not limited to a particular race or ethnicity, nor does it necessarily involve unequal treatment.

Question 12

Suppose that the CEO of a financial consulting company employs only tall people. Even though this CEO interviews equal numbers of short and tall applicants who are qualified to work at his company, he never hires any of the short ones. According to social psychologists, the CEO's behavior would be best described as an example of ____.

Accepted Answer

Discrimination refers to treating someone differently based on a characteristic (such as height) rather than on individual merit. In this case, the CEO is not hiring qualified candidates based on their height, which is an example of discrimination. Stereotyping refers to making generalizations about a group of people based on one characteristic, and prejudice refers to having negative beliefs or attitudes about a group of people. Aversive prejudice is a type of prejudice that is not consciously held, but may still influence behavior.

Question 13

Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding the human tendencies for prejudice and stereotyping?

Accepted Answer

Prejudice and stereotyping have been observed throughout history in various cultures. However, it is in modern Western culture that these tendencies have been widely recognized as morally wrong and efforts are being made to overcome them.

Question 14

Randi believes that, compared to white people, Asian people are spiritual. Randi's belief is best characterized as an example of ____.

Accepted Answer

Randi's belief is a stereotype because she is making a generalized assumption about an entire group of people based on their race. Stereotyping is a form of cognitive shortcut that people use to simplify their thinking about others, but it can also lead to oversimplification and generalization. Prejudice refers to a negative attitude or feeling towards a particular group, discrimination is an action taken against an individual or group based on their membership in a particular group, and racism is a broader system of power and discrimination that is institutionalized in society. Randi's belief does not necessarily reflect any of these other forms of prejudice or discrimination.

Question 15

Research on the economics of sports suggests that ____.

Accepted Answer

Research shows that racial discrimination can be costly for sports teams because it limits the pool of talented players and can also result in backlash from fans, sponsors, and other stakeholders. Furthermore, diversity and inclusion have been found to have positive financial impacts on teams, such as increasing fan engagement and revenue.

Question 16

Chuck is a middle-aged white man who is extremely liberal politically, and firm in his belief that all ethnic and racial groups should be given equal opportunities to succeed. Even so, Chuck never had friends who were minorities when he was growing up, and he sometimes feels uncomfortable interacting with minorities. Chuck is most likely ____.

Accepted Answer

Chuck's belief in equal opportunities for all ethnic and racial groups suggests that he is not explicitly prejudiced against minorities. However, his discomfort in interacting with minorities suggests that he may be an aversive racist, which is a form of subtle bias in which people hold egalitarian values but also hold negative attitudes towards minorities and exhibit discomfort or avoidance when interacting with them.

Question 17

An example of ____ against Native Americans would be the practice of keeping them on reservations instead of letting them live wherever they want.

Accepted Answer

Discrimination is the unfair treatment of individuals based on their membership in a particular group. By keeping Native Americans on reservations, they are being denied the same freedoms as other Americans to live and work wherever they choose, and are therefore being discriminated against. Prejudice involves prejudging individuals based on stereotypes and racism involves the belief in the superiority of one race over another. Stereotyping involves making assumptions about individuals based on their membership in a particular group.

Question 18

Which of the following refers to the tendency that some people have to simultaneously (a) hold egalitarian values, and (b) experience negative feelings, or feelings of disease, when interacting with minority groups?

Accepted Answer

Aversive racism refers to the conflict that arises from holding egalitarian values and experiencing negative feelings towards minority groups. The individual may not consciously hold prejudiced attitudes, but negative emotions and discomfort may surface during interactions with minority groups.

Question 19

The term "____" refers to a negative attitude or feeling toward an individual based solely on that individual's membership in a certain group.

Accepted Answer

Prejudice refers to a negative attitude or feeling towards an individual based solely on their membership in a certain group. Discrimination refers to the actual behavior or action that is taken based on that prejudice. Stereotype refers to a generalized belief about a certain group, which may or may not be negative. Racism refers specifically to prejudice and discrimination based on someone's race.

Question 20

Categories that people use for individuals who do not fit a more general stereotype are called ____.

Accepted Answer

Subtypes are categories used to describe individuals who do not fit the general stereotype of a group, allowing people to maintain their stereotypes while acknowledging exceptions.

Quiz 13: Prejudice and Intergroup Relations