Compare and contrast stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination ...

[biggirl4568]

Compare and contrast stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination and provide an example of each.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Describe the impact of schemas on memory. Explain how this may influence social thought.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[Athena23]

Answer to Question 1

Stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination are all forms of attitudes a person may hold toward a social group. However, each of these forms is different. First, stereotyping is a cognitive component that involves beliefs about what a particular group is like. An example of stereotyping would be the assumption that all Asians are good at math. Next, prejudice is an affective component that involves the feelings one has about a particular group. An example of prejudice would be if one felt disgust toward gay people. Finally, discrimination is a behavioral component that involves differential actions taken toward members of specific social groups. An example of discrimination would be if a person did not hire a qualified woman for a job merely because she is a woman.

Answer to Question 2

Schemas act as a filter in that they call our attention to some information and away from other information. This ensures that information that is consistent with our schemas is more likely to enter the memory system. Inconsistent information may be remembered, but will be marked with a tag to indicate that it is exceptional information. Next, schemas may guide our recall of information and the use of remembered information. Research suggests that information that is consistent with our schemas is more easily recalled and used than is information that is inconsistent with our schemas. These effects are more pronounced with well-developed schemas and when individuals are facing a heavy cognitive load. The effect of schemas on memory may influence social thought directly by influencing the memories we record and retrieve and indirectly by creating self-fulfilling prophecies.