PSYC12H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Trait Theory, Becky Mode, Controllability
18 Apr 2013
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Document Summary
Stereotyping and prejudice occur in a dynamic social context involving the perceiver and target reacting to each other. Stigma: the possession of a characteristic or attribute that conveys a negative social identity. A stigmatized person is one who is reduced in our minds from a whole and usual person to a tainted, discounted one. Goffman"s three types of stigmas: abominations of the body: physical deformities, being overweight, blemishes of individual character: being an alcoholic, tribal stigmas of race, nation, and religion: prejudice against another race. Previous research indicates that individuals faced with external threats (i. e. prejudice) show stronger ingroup identification. However, whether an individual has already strongly personally identified with their stigmatized group will have a major impact on the degree to which that individual disassociates from the group. High-identifiers: associate themselves with their group especially when it has a negative image.
