Module 4: Social Psychology
4.3. Stereotypes, bias, and conformity

Stereotypes play a significant role in our lives, shaping our views on the world and influencing our behavior. In social psychology, stereotypes are studied as an important aspect of intergroup relations and the perception of other people. In this lecture, we will look at the definition of stereotypes, their formation, functions and impact on society.

Defining stereotypes

A stereotype is a simplified and generalized representation of a member of a certain group of people, based on their belonging to this group. Stereotypes can relate to various characteristics, including gender, age, race, profession, and other aspects.

Forming stereotypes

Stereotypes are formed based on various factors, including:

• Social learning: People can learn stereotypes through communication with others, the media, and other sources of information.

• Saving mental energy: Stereotypes help to save mental resources, allowing you to quickly classify and understand the world around you.

• Protecting Self-esteem: Some stereotypes can serve to protect self-esteem by allowing people to feel superior to others.

Stereotype functions

Stereotypes perform several important functions:

• Cognitive function: Stereotypes help people quickly and effectively navigate the world and classify information.

• Social function: Stereotypes can be used to define belonging to a particular group and strengthen social identity.

• Protective function: Stereotypes can be used to reduce anxiety and uncertainty when dealing with strangers.

Impact of stereotypes

Stereotypes can have a serious impact on society and intergroup relations. They can lead to discrimination, bias, and inequality. Understanding stereotypes and their impact allows you to develop strategies to overcome them and improve intergroup relations.

Stereotypes play an important role in social psychology, and their research helps us better understand how we perceive others and how these perceptions affect our behavior. Working to reduce bias and discrimination is an important part of creating a more just and inclusive society.

Stereotypes can form some kind of biased attitude towards someone or something.

Bias is a phenomenon that plays a significant role in social psychology. It describes our tendency to form positive or negative evaluations, beliefs, and behaviors toward others based on their membership in a particular group. These groups can be based on differences in race, gender, religion, social status, and many other characteristics.

Sources of bias

Bias can occur due to various sources:

1. Stereotypes

Stereotypes are simplified and often distorted ideas about members of certain groups. They can lead to biased attitudes towards those we see as "others".

2. Discrimination

Discrimination means unequal treatment of people because of their group affiliation. This may include restricting access to resources, services, or features based on group attributes.

3. Professional and social environment

Environment and upbringing can also influence bias. People can inherit biased views and are indoctrinated with certain beliefs in their environment.

Types of bias

1. Racial bias

This is a race-based bias. It can lead to discrimination and inequality on an ethnic basis.

2. Gender bias

This is a gender-based bias. It can manifest itself in stereotypes about what roles are suitable for men and women.

3. Social and economic bias

People may also show bias based on their social status or economic status.

Effects of bias

Bias has many negative consequences. It can lead to social and economic inequality, conflict, and human rights violations. In addition, it can lead to a sense of outgroup threat and deterioration of inter-group relations.

Ways to overcome bias

Social psychology provides methods and tools to combat bias:

• Education and awareness: Raising awareness about the diversity and valid traits of groups can help reduce stereotypes and bias.

• Cross-group contact: Meetings between representatives of different groups, especially if they are aimed at cooperation, can reduce bias.

• Legislation: Laws designed to prohibit discrimination and inequality also play an important role.

Bias is a complex phenomenon that affects our social lives. Understanding it and how to deal with it are important steps towards creating a more just and equitable society. Social psychology continues to explore this topic and develop strategies to reduce bias.

Conformism is the phenomenon when a person changes their beliefs, opinions, or behaviors to conform to the norms and expectations of a group or society. This is a key aspect of social psychology that examines how people interact in groups and how they influence each other.

History and theories of conformism

1. Solomon Ash and the Invitee Line

• An experiment by Asch (1951) showed that even when participants saw a clearly incorrect majority opinion, they often tended to support that opinion in order to fit the group.

The Solomon Asch Experiments, also known as the" Solomon Asch Effect", were a series of studies in the field of social psychology. Solomon Asch conducted them in the 1950s and 1960s to investigate the influence of conformism on the perception and assessment of the surrounding reality.

In one of the most famous experiments, participants had to estimate the length of lines on cards. However, most of the participants were informed about the wrong answer, which was given in advance by other participants in the experiment. This led to the fact that many subjects began to agree with the incorrect answers of the majority, even if they themselves saw the correct answer.

Solomon Asch's experiments highlighted the importance of social influence and conformity in decision - making and opinion formation. They have become important contributions to understanding the psychology of group dynamics and the influence of others ' opinions on individual behavior.

2. Stanley Milgram and the "Submission to Authority Experiment"

• Эксперимент The Milgram experiment (1961) examined how far people are willing to go when obeying authority. He showed that many subjects were inclined to perform violent acts if ordered by an authority, even if they did not want to.

Stanley Milgram was an American social psychologist, best known for his famous "Submission to Authority Experiment", which he conducted in 1961. This experiment was designed to study the influence of authority on human behavior.

The experiment involved volunteers who were told that they were participating in a memory study, but in fact the study was related to the question of submitting to authority. Participants had to give electric shocks to another participant (who was actually an actor) when answering questions incorrectly. The level of electric shocks increased with each mistake.

Many participants continued to throw punches, even when they heard screams of pain and requests to stop from the actor. This experiment revealed how strongly people can submit to authority even to the detriment of moral beliefs.

Эксперимент Milgram's experiment has generated widespread interest and debate in the field of ethics and psychology. He stressed the importance of studying issues of morality, ethics and the impact of authority on human behavior.

3. Theory of informational and normative influence

• Conformism can be divided into two types: informational (when people follow a group because they believe it has information) and normative (when they comply to avoid conflict or gain approval).

The theory of informational and normative influence is a concept related to social psychology and the influence of one individual or group on the behavior and opinions of others. Let's take a closer look at each of these theories:

Theory of information influence:

This theory is related to the idea that people can change their opinions and behavior under the influence of information and knowledge provided by other people.

Example: If someone convincingly explains the benefits of eco-friendly products, this can influence the person and make them start choosing such products.

Theory of normative influence:

This theory states that people often make decisions based on social norms and expectations of others, even if this may contradict their own beliefs.

Example: A person may start dressing and behaving in a certain way to conform to the norms of their social group, even if this does not correspond to their own preferences.

It is important to note that both of these types of influences can have a strong impact on human behavior and opinions in different situations and contexts.

Conformism can have various causes, including:

1.   Social pressure: People may conform because they want to meet the expectations of others and avoid criticism or isolation.

2.   Fear of difference: The fear of being different and standing out from the crowd can lead people to follow behavioral standards and norms.

3.   Need for acceptance: A person can strive for acceptance by the group and therefore obey its rules and expectations.

4.   Lack of Self-confidence: People with low self-esteem may seek solace in conformity, as it can bring a sense of belonging.

5.   Cultural and social values: In different cultures and societies, there are certain expectations and standards of behavior that people can obey.

6.   Inability to make decisions: Some people choose to follow others to avoid the burden of making difficult decisions.

7.   Economic factors: In working or social environments, conformity can be a way to survive or move up the career ladder.

8.   Safety: When the situation is unclear or dangerous, people can conform to reduce the risk and ensure their safety.

These reasons may vary depending on the context and individual characteristics of each individual.

Conformism can have a variety of consequences:

1.   Loss of identity: Conformists often conform to social expectations, which can lead to the loss of their own identity and the expression of unique opinions and character traits.

2.   Reduced creativity: Conformist behavior can inhibit creativity and innovation, as it is more often focused on following already established standards and rules.

3.   Social pressure: Conformists are subject to social pressure because they strive to meet the expectations of others. This can lead to stress and unhappiness, especially if they are forced to act contrary to their beliefs.

4.   Limited diversity of opinions: In a society where conformity prevails, there may be a lack of diversity of opinions and points of view, which may slow down social development.

5.   Suppression of innovation and progress: Conformists may resist innovation and change, which may slow down technological and socio-cultural progress.

6.   Mass Hysteria and Mistakes: Conformist behavior can contribute to mass hysteria and mistakes, as people can follow the crowd without critical reflection.

7.   Inequality and social problems: In some cases, conformity can reinforce inequality and social problems, as it supports the existing order of things, even if it is unfair.

8.   Stagnation in personal development: Conformists may lose the ability to seek out and develop their own interests and passions, as they may be suppressed in favor of adopting generally accepted standards.

9.   Dependence on external opinions: Conformists may depend too much on the opinions of others and lose the ability to make independent decisions.

10. Loss of opportunity for positive change: Conformists may miss out on the opportunity to make positive changes in society, as they may be afraid to go against the flow.

However, it is worth noting that despite the large number of negative consequences of conformity, we can identify a significant plus – social integration. If a person concedes something to someone, seeks a compromise, this has a positive effect on his personality and is positively evaluated by society. But you need to take into account the specifics.

Conformism is a complex phenomenon that is important for understanding social relationships and interactions. Studying this phenomenon allows us to better understand how people make decisions and interact in society.