Nov 24, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

PY 4010 - Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination


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Relations between different social groups permeate society. Some of these groups can be based on race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, sexual orientation, sex and gender identity, region of the country, people from different universities, people from different countries, etc. To say the least, intergroup interactions and relations, whether people are aware of them or not, are ubiquitous in society. Given the prevalence of intergroup interactions, it is increasingly important to investigate how these interactions can go astray. To that end, this course will introduce students to various psychological frameworks for understanding one’s beliefs about members of social groups (stereotypes), evaluations of group members (prejudice), and behaviors toward members of a social group based on their group membership (discrimination). This course is intended to help facilitate an understanding of discrimination and prejudice from a scientific perspective. Using both empirical research and real experiences of members of several stigmatized groups, the psychologically based causes, correlates, and consequences of discrimination and prejudice will be examined. Topics will include the consequences of prejudice at different societal levels, the origins of prejudice, cognitive and motivational components of prejudice, the experiences of targets of prejudice, and ways to improve relationships between people who come from different social groups.

Prerequisite: PY 1000  or PY 1100 , junior or senior status.