This topic contains a solution. Click here to go to the answer

Author Question: Examine two theories that provide explanations for the negative stereotypes associated with Jews. ... (Read 67 times)

rayancarla1

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 571
Examine two theories that provide explanations for the negative stereotypes associated with Jews.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

The concept of peoplehood is used to describe ________.
 
  a. the commandments of Jewish behavior
  b. a shared feeling of Jews as a group
  c. the status of living in two distinct cultures simultaneously
  d. an offshoot of the Conservative movement



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
Marked as best answer by a Subject Expert

ally

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 331
Answer to Question 1

Social psychologist Gordon Allport, among others, advanced the fringe-of-values theory. Throughout history, Jews have occupied positions economically different from those of Gentiles, often because laws forbade them to farm or practice trades. For centuries, the Christian church prohibited the taking of interest in the repayment of loans, calling it the sin of usury. Consequently, in the minds of Europeans, the sinful practice of money lending was equated with the Jew. In reality, most Jews were not moneylenders, and most of those who were did not charge interest. In fact, many usurers were Christians, but because they worked in secret, it was only the reputation of the Jews that was damaged. To make matters worse, the nobles of some European countries used Jews to collect taxes, which only increased the ill feeling. To the Gentile, such business practices by the Jews constituted behavior on the fringes of proper conduct. Therefore, this theory about the perpetuation of anti-Semitism is called the fringe-of-values theory.

Another relevant approach is scapegoating theory, which says that prejudiced people believe they are society's victims. The theory of scapegoating suggests that, rather than accepting guilt for some failure, a person transfers the responsibility for failure to some vulnerable group. In the major tragic twentieth-century example, Adolf Hitler used the Jews as the scapegoat for all German social and economic ills in the 1930s. This premise led to the passage of laws restricting Jewish life in preWorld War II Germany and eventually escalated into the mass extermination of Europe's Jews. Yet scapegoating of Jews persists. A national survey in 2009 showed that one out of four people in the United States blame the Jews for the financial crisis that rocked the world starting in 2008.

Fringe-of-values theory is given as an explanation for other stereotypes, such as the assertion that Jews are clannish, staying among themselves and not associating with others. In the ancient world, neighboring peoples often attacked Jews in the Near East area. Throughout history, Jews have also at times been required to live in closed areas, or ghettos. This experience naturally led them to unify and rely on themselves rather than others. More recently, the stereotype of clannishness has gained support because Jews have been more likely to interact with Jews than with Gentiles. But this behavior is reciprocal because Gentiles have tended to stay among their own kind too.

Answer to Question 2

b




rayancarla1

  • Member
  • Posts: 571
Reply 2 on: Aug 8, 2018
Excellent


carlsona147

  • Member
  • Posts: 341
Reply 3 on: Yesterday
:D TYSM

 

Did you know?

Although puberty usually occurs in the early teenage years, the world's youngest parents were two Chinese children who had their first baby when they were 8 and 9 years of age.

Did you know?

Computer programs are available that crosscheck a new drug's possible trade name with all other trade names currently available. These programs detect dangerous similarities between names and alert the manufacturer of the drug.

Did you know?

There can actually be a 25-hour time difference between certain locations in the world. The International Date Line passes between the islands of Samoa and American Samoa. It is not a straight line, but "zig-zags" around various island chains. Therefore, Samoa and nearby islands have one date, while American Samoa and nearby islands are one day behind. Daylight saving time is used in some islands, but not in others—further shifting the hours out of sync with natural time.

Did you know?

Multiple experimental evidences have confirmed that at the molecular level, cancer is caused by lesions in cellular DNA.

Did you know?

If you could remove all of your skin, it would weigh up to 5 pounds.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library