Understanding Social Psychology: Attitudes and Prejudices

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Introduction

Social Psychology: Social psychology studies how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the presence and actions of others. It examines individual and group dynamics.
Attitudes in Psychology: Attitudes are complex psychological constructs that include emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components towards objects, people, or events. They can be formed through personal experiences, social influences, and cultural norms.
Types of Prejudice: Common types of prejudice include Racism, Sexism, Ageism, Classism, Homophobia, Nationalism, Religious Prejudice, and xenophobia. These prejudiced attitudes are based on superficial characteristics rather than individual merit.
Components of Prejudice: Prejudice comprises three components: stereotypes (cognitive bias), emotional bias (prejudice), and behavioral bias (discrimination). These can function independently but often influence one another.
Effects of Prejudice: Prejudice can lead to discrimination, limiting opportunities and freedoms for certain groups. It also fosters social tensions, damaging relationships and societal cohesion.
Origins of Prejudice: Prejudice may arise from psychological processes like categorization and Social Identity, where individuals view others based on group membership rather than individuality.

Racism: Prejudice based on race, often resulting in societal inequality and discrimination.
Sexism: Prejudice based on a person's sex, which can lead to gender discrimination in the workplace and society.
Ageism: Discrimination against individuals based on their age, often affecting employment opportunities.
Classism: Prejudice based on social class, contributing to economic disparities.
Homophobia: Prejudice against individuals based on their sexual orientation.
Nationalism: Prejudice against people from different countries or those perceived as foreigners.
Religious Prejudice: Discrimination or bias against individuals based on their religion.

Categorization: People categorize others into groups to make sense of complex social environments, which can lead to overgeneralized stereotypes.
Social Identity: Individuals derive part of their identity from group affiliations, favoring in-groups over out-groups.
Cognitive Biases: Prejudice can arise from cognitive biases and errors in thinking that affect judgments and actions.
Learned Behavior: Prejudice is often learned from societal norms, family, and media influences.
Functional Influences: Prejudice may reflect social and functional motivations, helping individuals adhere to group norms.

Social Exclusion: Prejudice can lead to discrimination and exclusion from social groups.
Increased Conflict: There is potential for increased societal tensions and conflicts due to prejudiced attitudes.
Economic Inequality: Discriminatory practices may limit economic opportunities for targeted groups.
Psychological Impact: Prejudice can have damaging psychological effects on those discriminated against, such as lower self-esteem and mental health issues.
Promotion of Stereotypes: Stereotypes are perpetuated, reinforcing discriminatory attitudes and behaviors.

In-group Favoritism: Individuals tend to favor their own group to enhance self-esteem.
Out-group Homogeneity Effect: Viewed out-group members as more similar to each other than in-group members.
Group Prototypes: Representations of how different social categories are perceived based on 'typical' features.
Social Comparison: People assess their own group's value by comparing it to other groups.
Consequence: This can lead to stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination against out-groups.

Components: Attitudes are based on cognitive (beliefs), affective (feelings), and behavioral (actions) components.
Influence of Society: Cultural and societal influences shape and mold individual attitudes over time.
Implicit vs. Explicit Attitudes: Implicit attitudes are unconsciously held, while explicit attitudes are deliberately formed.
Changeable Nature: Attitudes are dynamic and can be adjusted through personal experience and social changes.
Role in Prejudice: Prejudiced attitudes often arise from complex interactions of personal biases and social environments.