PSYC12H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Negative Relationship
Document Summary
Nations" income inequality predicts ambivalence in stereotype content: how societies mind the. Stereotype content model argues that ambivalence (perceiving many groups as either warm or competent, but not both) helps to maintain socio-economic disparities. More unequal societies have more ambivalent stereotypes while equal ones dislike competitive groups and don"t respect them as competent; unequal societies might need ambivalence for system stability, income inequality gives them partially positive images. Individuals are inclined to rationalize the status quo and seeing the existing social arrangements as fair and justified, even though they are not. Scm says that when we see societal groups as ambivalent, meaning they are fortunate in one aspect but not in another, we mask and maintain socio-economic disparities. The more unequal a society is, the more ambivalence there is and it acts as a rational buffer to conceal inequality and maintain it. Stereotypes generally contribute to maintenance of the system by justifying social actions.
