PSYC 2120 Lecture Notes - The Stereotypes, Ultimate Attribution Error, Contact Hypothesis

• School: York University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 2120
• Professor: Irwin Silverman

Document Summary

Prejudice is a widespread phenomenon, present in all walks of life. Social psychologists define prejudice as a hostile or negative attitude toward a distinguishable group of people based on solely on their group membership. A stereotype is the cognitive component of prejudice; it is defined as a generalization about a group whereby identical characteristics are assigned to virtually all members, regardless of actual variation among the members. Discrimination, the behavioural component of prejudice, is defined as unjustified negative or harmful action toward members of a group based on their membership in that group. Social cognitive processes (the way we think) are an important element in the creation and maintenance of stereotypes and prejudice. Categorization of people into groups leads to the formative of in groups and out groups. The in group bias means that we treat members of our own group more positively than members of the out group.