Showing papers in "Journal of Social Issues in 2014"
TL;DR: A review of the literature on men who become allies against sexism can be found in this article, concluding that men who act as allies are evaluated more positively than women who confront sexism, while their confrontations are taken as more serious and legitimate efforts to combat sexism.
Abstract: This article reviews the small but emerging literature on men who become allies against sexism. Although men are less likely than women to recognize sexism, male allies possess psychological belief systems that allow them to overcome barriers to seeing sexism and thus recognize the unfair treatment of women. We review research demonstrating that relative to women who confront sexism, men who act as allies are evaluated more positively, while their confrontations are taken as more serious and legitimate efforts to combat sexism. We discuss the implications of this research, including a discussion of how individuals and organizations can encourage men to become allies. We also identify how women can take advantage of the insights gleaned from men's confrontations to become more effective when they confront sexism.
150 citations
TL;DR: This article showed a significant indirect effect of intergroup contact on assertive bystander intentions via empathy, cultural openness and in-group bias (but not via intergroup anxiety), but they did not consider cultural openness.
Abstract: The present research tests the indirect effects of intergroup contact on adolescents’ bystander intervention intentions via four potential mediators: “empathy,” “cultural openness,” “in-group bias,” and “intergroup anxiety.” British adolescents (N=855), aged 11–13 years, completed measures of intergroup (interethnic) contact and the identified indirect variables. Intended bystander behavior was measured by presenting participants with an intergroup (immigrant) name-calling scenario. Participants rated the extent to which they would behave assertively. The findings extend previous intergroup contact research by showing a significant indirect effect of intergroup contact on assertive bystander intentions via empathy, cultural openness and in-group bias (but not via intergroup anxiety). Theoretical implications and practical suggestions for future prejudice-reduction interventions are discussed.
129 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined best practices in system-level interventions to reduce sexual harassment in the workplace and presented data from the U.S. Armed Forces to demonstrate the roles of organizational leadership, and sexual harassment policies and training, on reducing sexual harassment and improving outcomes when it does occur.
Abstract: Sexual harassment is a form of sexual victimization with its roots in sexism. Despite efforts to reduce its prevalence, it continues to be one of the most common forms of workplace mistreatment. This article examined best practices in system-level interventions to reduce sexual harassment in the workplace and presents data from the U.S. Armed Forces to demonstrate the roles of organizational leadership, and sexual harassment policies and training, on reducing sexual harassment and improving outcomes when it does occur. We assert that a clear and consistent antiharassment message from organizational leaders is essential. This is communicated via a written, widely disseminated policy on sexual harassment; regular educational training for all members of the organization; formal and informal reporting, investigation, and remediation procedures. Finally, we suggest that organizations conduct regular self-assessments of sexual harassment and perceptions of the organizational climate as proactive efforts to effectively intervene and eliminate its occurrence.
113 citations
TL;DR: This paper examined how perceived inclusive and exclusive peer norms for cross-ethnic relations contribute to predicting interest in cross ethnic friendship among ethnic minority and majority children, and found that perceiving inclusive norms from in-group peers uniquely predicted children's interest in crossing-group friendships.
Abstract: The present research examines how perceived inclusive and exclusive peer norms for cross-ethnic relations contribute to predicting interest in cross-ethnic friendship among ethnic minority and majority children. Across two survey studies, European American and African American children (Study 1) and European American and Latino American children (Study 2) reported on the extent to which they perceived inclusive and exclusive peer norms for cross-ethnic relations, as well as their own interest in developing cross-ethnic friendships. Results from both studies showed that perceiving inclusive norms for cross-ethnic relations from in-group peers uniquely predicted children's interest in cross-group friendships, beyond what can be accounted for by perceiving exclusive norms from in-group peers and preexisting cross-group friendships. Similar effects were observed for ethnic minority and majority children, and even after controlling for children's prior cross-group friendships. Implications of these findings for future research and efforts to promote inclusion among ethnic minority and majority children are discussed.
101 citations
TL;DR: This paper examined male and female perceivers' reactions to a female target who confronted sexism nonaggressively, confronted sexism aggressively (by slapping the perpetrator), or did not confront sexism.
Abstract: This research examines male and female perceivers’ reactions to a female target who (1) confronted sexism nonaggressively, (2) confronted sexism aggressively (by slapping the perpetrator), or (3) did not confront sexism. Results (N = 152) indicated that, overall, both women and men responded most favorably to the female target who confronted nonaggressively. Nonaggressive confrontation was perceived as relatively unthreatening for women and relatively threatening for men, whereas the remaining responses were all perceived as threatening for women. Results were further moderated by participants’ a priori levels of gender identification: women who were weakly identified with their gender and men who were highly identified with their gender were less supportive of aggressive confrontations. Implications regarding the optimal way to confront sexism are discussed.
99 citations
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that greater everyday discrimination is associated with increased inflammation over time in non-obese women, and the implications of interpersonal sources of social stress for long-term physical health via their impact on intermediary biological pathways, specifically inflammation are highlighted.
Abstract: Self-reported discrimination has emerged as a predictor of negative psychological and physical health outcomes across racial/ethnic groups The goals of this study were to determine whether C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation and risk factor for future cardiovascular disease (CVD) was independently predicted by everyday discrimination or whether race or body mass index (BMI) modified this association over a 7-year period among 2,490 women from racially diverse backgrounds At baseline, the 10-item Williams' measure of everyday discrimination was administered Generalized estimating equations were used to assess these associations Descriptive results showed that Black and Chinese women reported greater discrimination than White, Japanese, and Hispanic women, while Black and Hispanic women had the highest levels of CRP over the 7-year period There was no main effect of everyday discrimination (B = 003, SE = 005, p = 58) and this association did not differ as a function of race (p's > 05) The everyday discrimination × BMI interaction term significantly predicted higher CRP levels over time in the full sample of women (p = 03) Specifically, in non-obese women (BMI less than 30), higher perceived everyday discrimination was associated with higher CRP levels over the 7-year period These findings were independent of demographic, negative affect, biomedical, and behavioral factors The results demonstrate that greater everyday discrimination is associated with increased inflammation over time in non-obese women These findings highlight the implications of interpersonal sources of social stress for long-term physical health via their impact on intermediary biological pathways, specifically inflammation Greater emphasis on such linkages is warranted as we work towards ameliorating health disparities exacerbated by individual-level factors
91 citations
TL;DR: The authors examined the impact of prods more closely by manipulating them between-participants within an analogue paradigm in which participants are instructed to use negative adjectives to describe increasingly pleasant groups across all conditions, continuation and completion were positively predicted by the extent to which prods appealed to scientific goals but negatively predicted the degree to which a prod constituted an order.
Abstract: Milgram's classic studies are widely understood to demonstrate people's natural inclination to obey the orders of those in authority However, of the prods that Milgram's Experimenter employed to encourage participants to continue the one most resembling an order was least successful This study examines the impact of prods more closely by manipulating them between-participants within an analogue paradigm in which participants are instructed to use negative adjectives to describe increasingly pleasant groups Across all conditions, continuation and completion were positively predicted by the extent to which prods appealed to scientific goals but negatively predicted by the degree to which a prod constituted an order These results provide no support for the traditional obedience account of Milgram's findings but are consistent with an engaged followership model which argues that participants’ willingness to continue with an objectionable task is predicated upon active identification with the scientific project and those leading it
85 citations
TL;DR: The authors tested the effectiveness of an experiential learning intervention, WAGES-Academic, to educate about the harms of subtle sexism in the academic workplace and found that WAGES increased the recognition of everyday sexism as harmful and promoted behavioral intentions to discuss and seek information about gender inequity.
Abstract: The harms of subtle sexism tend to be minimized despite negative cumulative effects, thus people may be less motivated to address subtle sexism. We tested the effectiveness of an experiential learning intervention, WAGES-Academic (Workshop Activity for Gender Equity Simulation-Academic), to educate about the harms of subtle sexism in the academic workplace. Across two studies, WAGES increased the recognition of everyday sexism as harmful and promoted behavioral intentions to discuss and seek information about gender inequity compared to a control condition that provided identical information as WAGES but without experiential learning. These effects were due to WAGES limiting reactance and promoting self-efficacy. Moreover, WAGES did not differ in reactance or self-efficacy compared to a control condition that provided no gender inequity information. This suggests that WAGES buffers the potential negative effects of simply presenting gender inequity information. Results suggest that WAGES, and experiential learning more broadly, has the potential to change attitudes and behaviors about everyday sexism.
83 citations
TL;DR: This article investigated the developmental origins of the tendency to prefer and positively evaluate the actions of social ingroup members using a procedure derived from evaluative priming as well as children's verbal descriptions of intergroup encounters.
Abstract: What cognitive and affective processes underlie the all-too-human tendency toward group-based affiliation and exclusion? Using a paradigm in which children are randomly assigned to previously unfamiliar and meaningless “minimal” social groups, we investigate the developmental origins of the tendency to prefer and positively evaluate the actions of social ingroup members. Using a procedure derived from evaluative priming as well as children’s verbal descriptions of intergroup encounters, we show that 6-year olds but not 3-year olds manifest robust ingroup preference. These results suggest that the mechanisms underlying the wide range of human social group affiliations undergoes a striking increase in generality between ages 3 and 6, perhaps driven by a shift from an individual-level to a group-level or “sociocentric” orientation. Decisions about whom to affiliate with or exclude cluster into identifiable collectives. The forms of such collectives are dizzying, from ethnic and racial groups through religious, linguistic, and national distinctions, to identities defined via ideologies or political movements. This variety stands in stark contrast with other primates, who appear to be attentive to just a small set of social categories (namelykinship,gender,andband;Wilson&Wrangham,2003).Thus,ourspecies places great importance on culturally defined forms of social affiliation, and uses membership (or lack thereof) as an important heuristic governing how to understand and treat others. Why are we so given to group-based social reasoning? One clue comes from social psychology, where it has long been known that merelydividingsocialspaceinto“us”and“them”canproduceintergroupbias.For
72 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, identity-based motivation theory is used to understand how social determinants operate at the micro-level to influence whether or not a behavior or choice feels congruent with important identities and how such identity-congruence influences which strategies are chosen and how difficulty is interpreted.
Abstract: People aspire to be healthy but often fall short of this goal. Poor health is associated with macro-level factors—social stratification and low socioeconomic position, including low education, low income, and low status racial-ethnic group membership. These social determinants differentially expose people to health-promoting (or undermining) contexts and to having (not having) choice and control over their lives. But social determinants cannot cause individual action directly. Identity-based motivation theory addresses this gap, articulating how social determinants operate at the micro-level to influence whether or not a behavior or choice feels congruent with important identities and how such identity-congruence, in turn, influences which strategies are chosen and how difficulty is interpreted. Lack of choice and control make an interpretation of difficulty as meaning that effort is pointless and “not for people like me” (rather than important) more likely, reducing belief that one's action and effort matter.
71 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an intervention to reduce gender prejudice in future professionals of social sciences in three samples from Argentina, Spain, and El Salvador, with slight differences across countries.
Abstract: We present an intervention to reduce gender prejudice in future professionals of social sciences in three samples from Argentina (N = 28), Spain (N = 83), and El Salvador (N = 67), with slight differences across countries. The program was based on scientific research on sexism and gender-based power aimed at: (1) increasing awareness of gender inequalities; (2) reducing sexism in men and women; (3) providing participants with resources to implement social interventions. First the intervention is described, and then empirical evidence of its efficacy is provided. Results showed a reduction of benevolent sexism (BS), hostile sexism (HS), and essentialist views, and higher support for collective actions in Argentina (Study 1). HS and system-justifying beliefs were reduced and support for collective action increased in Spain (Study 2). In El Salvador, HS, BS (marginally), system-justifying, and homophobic beliefs were reduced (Study 3). Implications for interventions and policy making are discussed.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide experimental information about awareness of heterosexual privilege and male privilege and specific interventions for use in education, professional development, and community settings, and find that male privilege awareness was significantly increased and modern sexism was reduced by the video intervention.
Abstract: Gender-focused college courses seek to increase understanding of the systematic advantages associated with dominant group membership. These courses attempt to reduce prejudice and raise awareness of male and heterosexual privilege. Inclusion of privilege content within gender-focused courses has increased, but research to test interventions to increase privilege awareness and reduce prejudice remains sparse. The current studies provide experimental information about awareness of heterosexual privilege (Study 1) and male privilege (Study 2) and specific interventions for use in education, professional development, and community settings. Study 1 found the video intervention was effective in increasing heterosexual privilege awareness and internal motivation to respond without prejudice. Study 2 found that male privilege awareness was significantly increased and modern sexism was reduced by the video intervention. Findings provide information for applied practices such as pedagogical strategies when designing diversity courses and training workshops.
TL;DR: The authors examined the role of perpetrator power in witnesses' decision to confront a prejudicial remark and found that participants who witnessed a sexist remark by a higher-power (vs. an equal-power) perpetrator were significantly less likely to express confrontation intentions, despite finding the remark highly biased and inappropriate.
Abstract: Two experiments examined the role of perpetrator power in witnesses’ decision to confront a prejudicial remark. In Experiment 1, participants who witnessed a sexist remark by a higher-power (vs. an equal-power) perpetrator were significantly less likely to express confrontation intentions, despite finding the remark highly biased and inappropriate. In Experiment 2, participants read scenarios involving a sexist versus racist remark perpetrated by someone higher vs. lower vs. equal in power, and they reported their confrontation intentions. Perpetrator power again inhibited direct confrontation intentions, and this effect was mediated by perceptions of responsibility for intervening, perceived ability to decide how to respond, and perceived costs versus benefits of confronting. Findings were not qualified by discrimination type (racism vs. sexism) or by individual differences in participant prejudice. Consistent with power-as-approach theory, feeling powerless increased sensitivity to confrontation obstacles and thereby inhibited confrontation intentions.
TL;DR: White adults were more likely to report depression than Black adults, and when accounting for coping style, the Black-white difference in depression widened, suggesting that if it were not for the high prevalence of vigilant coping in blacks, the well-documented black advantage regarding depression compared to whites would likely be even greater.
Abstract: Although Black-white differences in depression are well documented, vigilant coping style as an explanation for the observed inequalities in depression is less understood. Using data from 718 adults in the Exploring Health Disparities in Integrated Communities (EHDIC) Study, we estimated logistic regression models to examine the cross sectional relationship between race, vigilant coping style, and depression. After controlling for demographic variables, white adults were more likely to report depression than Black adults. Moreover, when accounting for coping style, the Black-white difference in depression widened. This association persisted even with the addition of the covariates. While high rates of depression among whites compared with Blacks are well documented, the degree of the differences appears to be greater than previously reported once vigilance is accounted for. This finding suggests that if it were not for the high prevalence of vigilant coping in blacks, the well-documented black advantage regarding depression compared to whites would likely be even greater.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that a social developmental analysis of how groups and individuals experience, evaluate, and understand exclusion is essential for a complete picture of the human experience, interpretation, and consequences of exclusion.
Abstract: Over the past decade, developmental and social psychological research has ex-plicitly adopted a developmental intergroup framework, integrating social anddevelopmental psychologyfieldstounderstandtheoriginsofsocialexclusionandprejudice. This article argues that a social developmental analysis of how groupsand individuals experience, evaluate, and understand exclusion is essential for acomplete picture of the human experience, interpretation, and consequences ofexclusion. What has been missing in much of the social psychological researchon exclusion is an incorporation of developmental perspectives; likewise, whathasbeenmissingindevelopmentpsychologicalresearchisafocusongroupiden-tity and group dynamics for understanding the basis for exclusionary behaviorin childhood. Yet, the roots of adult forms of exclusion can be documented inchildhood,andchildrenwhoexperienceexclusionareparticularlyatriskforneg-ative outcomes, and especially when exclusion is based on group membership.Moreover, interventions designed to ameliorate social problems associated withexclusion need to be based on an understanding of how, why, and under whatconditions, children and groups make decisions to exclude others, how they expe-rience this exclusion, and how exclusion originates and changes over the course
TL;DR: The authors found that children like ingroup members who challenge group norms about resource allocation, and that when deciding between group loyalty and equal allocation, children and adolescents gave priority to equality, rejecting group decisions to dislike ingroup member who advocated for equality.
Abstract: Do children like ingroup members who challenge group norms about resource allocation? Further, do children evaluate from their own individual perspective? Participants (N = 381), aged 9.5 and 13.5 years, evaluated members of their own group who deviated from group norms about resource allocation by either: (1) advocating for equal allocation in contrast to the group norm of inequality; or (2) advocating for inequality when the group norm was to divide equally. With age, participants differentiated their own individual favorability from the group's favorability of deviant members of the ingroup. Further, when deciding between group loyalty and equal allocation, children and adolescents gave priority to equality, rejecting group decisions to dislike ingroup members who advocated for equality.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe an integrated theoretical approach for promoting resistance to the system of sexual objectification. And they propose a two-arm approach that would harness the system justification motive and adjust the lens of self-objectification in order to facilitate social change.
Abstract: In this article, we describe an integrated theoretical approach for promoting resistance to the system of sexual objectification. Drawing from system justification and objectification theories, we propose a two-arm approach that would harness the system justification motive and adjust the lens of self-objectification in order to facilitate social change. We suggest that it is necessary to frame a rejection of the system of sexual objectification as a way to preserve (rather than threaten) the societal status quo. Further, we argue that it is critical to alter and expand the self-objectified lens through which many women come to view themselves in order to reduce their dependence on the system that constructs and sustains that lens. Although we recognize that multiple approaches and perspectives are needed, we argue that a disruption of the system at its ideological roots is essential to ultimately transcend sexual objectification as a cultural practice.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that any consideration of these issues cannot ignore the impact of Milgram's ideas in psychology, in other disciplines such as history, and in society at large.
Abstract: In this article, we outline the rationale for reexamining Milgram's explanation of how ordinary people can become perpetrators of atrocity. We argue, first, that any consideration of these issues cannot ignore the impact of Milgram's ideas in psychology, in other disciplines such as history, and in society at large. Second, we outline recent research in both psychology and history which challenges Milgram's perspective—specifically his “agentic state” account. Third, we identify the moral dangers as well as the analytic weaknesses of his work. Fourth, we point to recent methodological developments that make it ethically possible to revisit Milgram's studies. Combining all four elements we argue that there is a compelling and timely case for reexamining Milgram's legacy and developing our understanding of perpetrator behavior. We then outline how the various articles in this special issue contribute to such a project.
TL;DR: This paper applied the message-learning theory of persuasion to examine perceptions of leaders who confront sexism and found that female participants evaluated confronters more positively and female (vs. male) leaders were evaluated less favorably when they confronted publically.
Abstract: We applied the message-learning theory of persuasion to examine perceptions of leaders who confront sexism. Participants (N = 283) read vignettes that varied the confrontation message (i.e., directness), source (i.e., confronter gender), and context (i.e., public vs. private). As hypothesized, female (vs. male) participants evaluated confronters more positively and female (vs. male) leaders were evaluated less favorably when they confronted publically. Additionally, participants perceived greater sexism for public (vs. private) confrontation contexts and were more surprised when the confrontation source was a male (vs. female) leader. Implications for confronting and persuasion theories and applications for policymakers are discussed.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present the current state of research on confronting and reducing sexism and identify gaps in the literature by outlining situational and contextual factors that are important in confronting sexism and introduce how these are addressed.
Abstract: This article presents the current state of research on confronting and reducing sexism. We first provide a systematic overview about prior work on confronting sexism. We identify gaps in the literature by outlining situational and contextual factors that are important in confronting sexism and introduce how these are addressed in the current volume. Second, we review prior work on reducing sexism. Compared to research on reducing other forms of prejudice, research on interventions to reduce sexism is rare. We explain why mechanisms that are successful in reducing other forms of prejudice cannot simply be adapted to reducing sexism. We then outline how the articles of this issue promote research, theory, and policy on reducing sexism. In conclusion, the aim of this issue is to bring together novel theoretical approaches as well as empirically tested methods that identify key antecedents and consequences of diverse ways of confronting and reducing sexism.
TL;DR: The findings suggest that experiences of intergroup stress can spill over into everyday life in the absence of positive contact, but cross-race friendships may be a resource that mitigates the expression of interracial stress.
Abstract: We examined the interplay of psychosocial risk and protective factors in daily experiences of health In Study 1, the tendency to anxiously expect rejection from racial outgroup members, termed race-based rejection sensitivity (RS-race), was cross-sectionally related to greater stress-symptoms among Black adults who reported fewer cross-race friends but not among participants who had more cross-race friends In Study 2, we experimentally manipulated the development of a same- versus cross-race friendship among Latino/a-White dyads prior to collecting daily experiences of stress-symptoms using a diary methodology While RS-race predicted more psychosomatic symptoms in the same-race friendship condition, RS-race was unrelated to symptomatology among participants who made a cross-race friend These findings suggest that experiences of intergroup stress can spill over into everyday life in the absence of positive contact, but cross-race friendships may be a resource that mitigates the expression of interracial stress
TL;DR: Two alternative theoretical models of the relations between perceived racial discrimination, psychological distress, alcohol, and marijuana use in a sample of 567 African American high school students indicated most support for a model linking perceivedracial discrimination to more depressive symptoms that, in turn, were associated with greater past month alcohol andarijuana use.
Abstract: Experiences of racial discrimination and social inequality are related to higher levels of psychological distress and substance use that may contribute to health disparities among youth. This within-group quantitative survey study tested two alternative theoretical models of the relations between perceived racial discrimination, psychological distress, alcohol, and marijuana use in a sample of 567 African American high school students (61% female; mean age = 15.6 years). Path analyses indicated most support for a model linking perceived racial discrimination to more depressive symptoms that, in turn, were associated with greater past month alcohol and marijuana use. These findings expand our understanding of the direction of effects for exposure to racial discrimination in African American youth and reinforce the need for public health policies, research, and programs for African American youth that acknowledge and address the psychological effects of exposure to racial discrimination on alcohol and marijuana use. Language: en
TL;DR: This paper examined adolescents' attitudes and reasoning about the exclusion of peers based on sexual orientation and gender nonconformity, and found that although participants reported it was more acceptable to exclude their gay or lesbian, as opposed to straight, peers, gender nonconsformity was also a distinguishing factor.
Abstract: Previous research focused on sexual prejudice has shown that lesbian and gay adolescents are at greater risk of peer harassment and victimization than their straight counterparts. Peer victimization such as exclusion, however, may also be related to conventional expectations adolescents hold about their social environment. This study examined adolescents' (N = 1069) attitudes and reasoning about the exclusion of peers based on sexual orientation and gender nonconformity. RESULTS indicate that although participants reported it was more acceptable to exclude their gay or lesbian, as opposed to straight, peers, gender nonconformity was also a distinguishing factor. Whereas mannerism and activity nonconforming gay targets were rated less positively than similarly nonconforming straight targets, straight appearance nonconforming targets were not evaluated differently than gay appearance nonconforming targets. Further, the types of reasoning adolescents used to justify their exclusion judgments varied by sexual orientation and gender nonconformity of the target. Language: en
TL;DR: This article present a secondary qualitative analysis of archived audio data from two conditions (voice-feedback and women as subjects) in Milgram's experiments, focusing on the rhetorical strategies employed by participants.
Abstract: In this paper I present a secondary qualitative analysis of archived audio data from two conditions (‘voice-feedback’ and ‘women as subjects’) in Milgram’s experiments. Using a perspective informed by rhetorical and discursive psychologies, I focus on the rhetorical strategies employed by participants. This highlights the use of strategies based around direct invocations of ‘knowledge’. Analysis explores the ways in which participants could use such strategies to challenge the experimenter’s definition of the situation in their efforts to extricate themselves from the experiment. Findings are discussed in relation to two ongoing debates in the study of Milgram’s experiments: First, the importance of attending to defiance and resistance as much as compliance and obedience; second, the questioning of the status of the phenomena captured in Milgram’s studies as necessarily being concerned with ‘(dis)obedience’.
TL;DR: This paper examined the imbalance of power thesis by investigating the link between ethnic classroom composition and peer victimization in 94 Turkish-Dutch (minority) and 374 native Dutch (majority) preadolescents living in the Netherlands.
Abstract: This study examined the imbalance of power thesis by investigating the link between ethnic classroom composition and peer victimization in 94 Turkish-Dutch (minority) and 374 native Dutch (majority) preadolescents (ages 9-13) living in the Netherlands. These children came from the same multi-ethnic classrooms (N = 31) and were considered as mutual out-group members. Analyses showed that children with more out-group classmates reported more peer victimization but only when those classmates evaluated their own ethnic group more positively than the out-group. This interaction effect was similar for minority and majority children, and no longer significant once children's experiences with ethnic peer discrimination were partialled out. RESULTS indicate that ethnicity is not inevitably used as a criterion to victimize out-group members who are less well represented in the classroom. The findings partly support the imbalance of power thesis. Language: en
TL;DR: Typically developing 3- to 5-year-old children completed tasks designed to measure their social preferences for, and judgments about the actions of, unfamiliar individuals with and without disabilities.
Abstract: How do preschool-age children evaluate people with disabilities, and does social contact make children more positive toward those who are different from them? To answer these questions, typically developing 3- to 5-year-old children completed tasks designed to measure their social preferences for, and judgments about the actions of, unfamiliar individuals with and without disabilities. Participants preferred pictures of typically developing children over children in wheelchairs, but did not prefer children who were described with disabilities over those who were described with mildly negative facts. In a third task, participants evaluated actions that violated norms more negatively than those that did not, regardless of whether the actors had a disability. Children's participation in inclusion programs did not appear to affect their responses. We consider possible explanations for children's responses - including the absence of social contact effects - in the discussion.
TL;DR: This article found that children in the pro-egalitarian condition were better able to identify sexism in media and to respond to peers' sexist comments than were children in a pro-social condition.
Abstract: Elementary school-age children (N = 137, 70 boys, ages 4–10) were randomly assigned to receive one of two types of lessons aimed at increasing the inclusiveness of peer relations and improving children's ability to identify bias in media. Children in the pro-social condition were taught to identify and respond to undesirable/unfair social behaviors (e.g., teasing), whereas children in the pro-egalitarian condition were taught to respond to these same behaviors, with additional attention to gender bias (e.g., teasing about gender role nonconformity). After five lessons, children completed immediate and 6-month delayed measures of egalitarian attitudes, intergroup liking, responses to hypothetical peers’ sexist remarks, and ability to identify sexism in media. The lessons did not differentially affect children's gender egalitarian attitudes and intergroup liking. As expected, however, children in the pro-egalitarian condition were better able to identify sexism in media and to respond to peers’ sexist comments than were children in the pro-social condition.
TL;DR: In this article, sociological insights on Milgram's experiments are presented, which bolster and extend Russell and Gregory's largely psychological explanation, and illustrate how the division of labour inherent within this bureaucratic process facilitated Milgrams high completion rates because when highly stressed participants inflicted the most intense shocks, every link in the chain had the opportunity to displace or diffuse personal responsibility.
Abstract: Based on documents from Yale University, this article advances new sociological insights on Milgram's experiments, which bolster and extend Russell and Gregory's largely psychological explanation. From behind-the-scenes, Milgram's experiments are viewed as an ideologically driven, inherently coercive, and goal-orientated bureaucratic process. The individual links within this organisational chain included Milgram (project manager), Yale University (institutional support), the National Science Foundation (funding), Milgram's research team (the actors), ending with the final link, the “shock”-inflicting participants. Analysis illustrates how the division of labour inherent within this bureaucratic process facilitated Milgram's high completion rates because when highly stressed participants inflicted the most intense shocks, every link in the chain had the opportunity to displace or diffuse personal responsibility for their actually or, for the participants, seemingly harmful contributions. This analysis is consistent with Durkheim's insistence that to better understand the behavior of individuals, the social—and therefore sociological—context must also be considered.
TL;DR: The authors examined the reactions of 6 to 12 year old children to in-group members who accepted or rejected them, and assessed whether their reactions were influenced by their rejection sensitivity and social acumen.
Abstract: This study examined the reactions of 6 to 12 year old children (N = 144) to in-group members who accepted or rejected them, and assessed whether their reactions were influenced by their rejection sensitivity (RS) and social acumen (SA). After completing measures of RS and SA, children participated in an intergroup simulation in which they were accepted or unambiguously versus ambiguously rejected by their group. Findings indicated that whereas ambiguously rejected children understood that they had been rejected, they nevertheless retained greater in-group identification and more positive attitudes than the rejected children, although less than the accepted children. However, as with rejected participants, ambiguously rejected children still opted to change groups whereas accepted children did not. SA children liked the in-group less, whereas those with SA liked the in-group more. Discussion focused on children's selection of peer groups, as well as the effects of their rejection from them.
TL;DR: These data are the first to theoretically and empirically link self-stereotyping and self-esteem (a psychological resource) with a strong physiological risk factor for morbidity and short life expectancy in stigmatized individuals.
Abstract: The authors draw upon social, personality, and health psychology to propose and test a self-stereotyping and psychological resource model of overweight and obesity. The model contends that self-stereotyping depletes psychological resources, namely self-esteem, that help to prevent overweight and obesity. In support of the model, mediation analysis demonstrates that adult Hispanics who highly self-stereotype had lower levels of self-esteem than those who self-stereotype less, which in turn predicted higher levels of body mass index (overweight and obesity levels). Furthermore, the model did not hold for the referent sample, White participants, and an alternative mediation model was not supported. These data are the first to theoretically and empirically link self-stereotyping and self-esteem (a psychological resource) with a strong physiological risk factor for morbidity and short life expectancy in stigmatized individuals. Thus, this research contributes to understanding ethnic-racial health disparities in the United States and beyond.