Practicing Success
The goal of reducing prejudice can be accomplished by : (A) Correcting stereotypes related to specific target group Choose the correct answer from the options given below : |
(A), (C), (D) Only (B), (D), (E) Only (E), (C), (D) Only (A), (B), (C) Only |
(A), (C), (D) Only |
The initial step in effectively addressing prejudice involves gaining knowledge about its causes or origins. Consequently, the strategies employed to handle prejudice would be successful if they focus on (goals): (a) Minimizing opportunities that facilitate the acquisition of prejudiced beliefs. (b) Altering such attitudes that contribute to prejudice. (c) Deprioritizing a narrow social identity centered around the ingroup. (d) Discouraging the tendency towards selffulfilling prophecy among the victims of prejudice. These goals can be accomplished through : • Education and information dissemination, for correcting stereotypes related to specific target groups, and tackling the problem of a strong ingroup bias. • Increasing intergroup contact allows for direct communication, removal of mistrust between the groups, and even discovery of positive qualities in the outgroup. However, these strategies are successful only if : - the two groups meet in a cooperative rather than competitive context, - close interactions between the groups helps them to know each other better, and - the two groups are not different in power or status. • Highlighting individual identity rather than group identity, thus weakening the importance of group (both ingroup and outgroup) as a basis of evaluating the other person. More details about social identity and intergroup conflict have been presented in the next chapter on Social Influence and Group Processes. |