Social Psychology

A. Prejudiced Reduction: (adapted from Scott Plous, Wesleyan College)

The scenarios in this exercise contain prejudiced comments that were overheard by Social Psychology students during a week-long period of social observation (although the comments are real, some of the background information may have been changed in order to protect the identity of all concerned). In most cases, the comments in this packet were met with smiling, laughter or silence. Responders did not typically express disagreement with what was said.

At home, write down a response to the prejudiced comment in a way that will ultimately lead to its reduction rather than its reinforcement. This is extremely challenging, because it is hard to respond honestly without leading other people to become defensive, dismissive, or hostile.

In class, you will get into small groups of 4 students and you will role play one of three roles. All group members should have at least one opportunity to play each role. The three roles are Speaker, Responder, and Coach, and their corresponding tasks are as follows:

Speaker -- Choose a scenario (or make one up) and say the prejudiced remark

Responder – Share your response that you wrote at home

Coach -- Provide candid feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of the response

To get the most out of this exercise, it is important to spend as much time as possible actually practicing, rather than simply discussing prejudice reduction, and the Coaches should be as honest as possible in their feedback.  To begin the exercise, one person should play the role of Speaker, the person next to the Speaker should play the role of Responder, and the remaining group members should be Coaches.

The Speaker should silently choose one of the scenarios listed on his or her sheet. The Speaker should read aloud the information about the speaker, the responder, and the context, then start the conversation and let it build for a minute or so before making the prejudiced remark.  

The Responder should respond to the comment (use what you write at home!), then let the discussion continue for a brief time so that the Speaker can reply.

 

Once the Speaker and Responder are finished, the Coaches should critique the response.

The roles should be rotated for another practice round with a new Speaker and Responder.

Do not worry about getting through all the scenarios or adhering precisely to the scripted comments; the scenarios were designed to facilitate the exercise.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE:

If you prefer not to participate as Speaker or Responder, you may elect to serve as Coach. It is worth noting, however, that aside from today's class, few of us will ever have the opportunity to practice methods of prejudice reduction in front of supportive "coaches" who are willing to give us feedback about how we did. Please consider how rare this opportunity is and use the time to your advantage.

 

Scenario 1

Speaker: The student’s sister Responder: A female college student

Background: These two women were hanging out after school and went to get coffee. They were discussing various topics, and the discussion turned to a sibling who is gay.

Comment: "I don’t know if I can hang out with Kate in public anymore, because I don’t want people to think that I am gay too."

 

Your response:

 

Scenario 2

Speaker: The responder’s friend Responder: A male college student

Background: Comment was made while watching Nascar on television.

Comment: "That is such a hillbilly sport."

Your response:

 

Scenario 3

Speaker: A male friend Responder: A female college student

Background: Conversation during a dinner date

Comment: "I just want a wife who will cook me dinner and do my laundry."

Your response:

 

Scenario 4

Speaker: A middle aged female store manager Responder: An employee

Background: They were discussing who should be hired for a job opening.

Comment: "I don’t want to hire anyone who is Goth or wears too much black."

Your response:

 

Scenario 5

Speaker: White male teenager Responder: White male teenager

Background: Conversation in the car while driving down the road behind an older driver.

Comment: "Old people are the worst drivers in the world! They need to have their license taken away."

 

Your response:

 Scenario 6

Speaker: Male coworker Responder: A female college student

Background: While working at an ice cream store, the coworker commented when a heavier customer entered the store.

Comment: "Geez! Like they need any more food, especially ice cream!”

Your response:

 

Scenario 7

Speaker: The responder’s friend Responder: A female college student

Background: They are driving home from the mall, and a car filled with Black people pulled up next to them at a red light. They start discussing the funny appearance of the car.

Comment: "Quiet, they may have heard us. I don’t want to get shot."

Your response:

 

 

Scenario 8

Speaker: Male classmate in his 50’s Responder: College student

Background: Class discussion about gays

Comment: "I hate gays. They’re all sinners and will rot in hell for their choices.”

Your response:

 

 

Scenario 9

Speaker: Male in his early 20s Responder: Teenage female

Background: While driving down the road, they hear the sound of brakes screeching

Comment: "Must have been a woman driving”

Your response:

 

Scenario 10

Speaker: Female Filipino coworker Responder: White female

Background: Several coworkers ordered Chinese food delivered to their workplace. A Chinese coworker’s meal is not what she ordered, so they are trying to determine whether to call the restaurant back and tell them it is incorrect.

Comment: "She’ll eat it. She’s Chinese and she likes to eat all Chinese food.”

Your response:

 

Scenario 11

Speaker: A White female 19 years old Responder: A White female 19 years old

Background: Walking through the mall, they see a group of Arabian men

Comment: "Be careful, one them probably has a bomb."

Your response:

 

 

 

Scenario 12

Speaker: A female server at a restaurant Responder: A female server

Background: She is discussing how she hates waiting on old people.

Comment: "Waiting on old people is a waste of time! You sit there and talk to them for 15 minutes, and they leave you a 5% tip!”

Your response:

 

Scenario 13

Speaker: A female friend Responder: White female college student

Background: The college student is suggesting to her friend that they go shopping at a store that sells stylish clothes in an area of the city that has a high percentage of Hispanic people.

Comment: "I’m not going there! I’ll get shot!”

 

Scenario 14

Speaker: Girlfriend’s mother Responder: A male college student

Background: Sitting at the dinner table discussing the student’s upcoming trip to Florida with the mother’s daughter.

Comment: "If you see any Muslims on that plane tomorrow morning, you better protect my little girl from those terrorists."

Your response:

 

Scenario 15

Speaker: Male friend Responder: A male college student

Background: They are talking while driving through Clifton, and they see a homeless person on the sidewalk in front of a business.

Comment: "Homeless people are worthless. Go get a job!"

Your response:

 

Post-Exercise Discussion

1. What were your reactions to the exercise? Was it easy or difficult to object to the prejudiced comment?

 

2. Were you able to avoid conflict?

 

3. What techniques did you find most effective? Did you find a way to respond that did not make the speaker defensive, dismissive, or hostile?

 

4. Would you be able to do this in actual situations with friends, family members, and strangers?

 

5.  Is the most effective response an immediate one or is it better to wait? Are public responses more effective than private responses? Are there situations in which it is best not to respond?

 

 

B. Social Norm Assignment

Social Norm: Expectations about what behavior, thoughts, or feelings are appropriate within a given group within a given context.

Conformity: yielding to, or "going along with," a perceived social norm.

1) Is conformity a good thing, or a bad thing? Why?

2) List 15 social norms, and if they are specific to a certain group or context, describe it.