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Us versus Them: The Social Neuroscience of Perceiving Out-groups

Nalini Ambady and Reginald B. Adams

in Social Neuroscience: Toward Understanding the Underpinnings of the Social Mind

What are the neural processes involved in perceiving out-groups? The pace of inquiry into this topic has picked up considerably since the pioneering neuroimaging studies conducted in 2000, yielding ... More

What are the neural processes involved in perceiving out-groups? The pace of inquiry into this topic has picked up considerably since the pioneering neuroimaging studies conducted in 2000, yielding several insights into the neural processes involved in perceiving, responding to, and regulating responses to out-groups. Chapter 6–8 elegantly synthesize the social neuroscience work on perceiving out-groups and suggest several areas for further inquiry. This chapter first summarizes the insights provided by these chapters and then goes on to outlining areas for further inquiry.Less

Examining the Implications of Cultural Frames on Social Movements and Group Action

Daphna Oyserman and Armand Lauffer

in Understanding Genocide: The Social Psychology of the Holocaust

What is the connection between individual-democratic and group-ethnic worldviews and the risk of organized bloodshed? This chapter claims that at least part of the answer lies in the ways social ... More

What is the connection between individual-democratic and group-ethnic worldviews and the risk of organized bloodshed? This chapter claims that at least part of the answer lies in the ways social movements capitalize on existing cultural frames to create local meanings conducive to organized violence against out-groups. This perspective builds on an emerging cultural focus within social psychology and draws attention to the ways a society's codes and values become part of the very fabric of an individual's perceptual frame. Using this social-psychological approach to understanding genocide focuses attention on the role of cultural frame in shaping meaning — through norms, values, and the sense made of actions — as it relates to intergroup relations.Less

Street life, neighbourhood policing and ‘the community’

Stephen Moore

in ASBO nation: The criminalisation of nuisance

In the United Kingdom, the public's response to street-life people provides a number of interesting insights into the process by which certain groups come to be viewed as a threat and their ... More

In the United Kingdom, the public's response to street-life people provides a number of interesting insights into the process by which certain groups come to be viewed as a threat and their consequent treatment by the wider community. This chapter examines the mechanisms by which certain groups become increasingly visible as threats to public safety, and the conditions under which they become demonised. It then argues that the ‘default position’ of communities, when asked what they want done about a problem group, is, and, historically, often has been, to seek their elimination. The process of ‘getting rid of’ or eliminating a group perceived as threatening is more likely to occur when power over decision making on the future of the ‘out-groups’ is handed over to communities. Neighbourhood policing, one of New Labour's major policing initiatives, may increase the likelihood of greater punitiveness and social exclusion. In addition to street life in the UK, the chapter explores the notion of ‘community’ and ‘neighbourhood’ in New Labour thinking, specifically as it applies to anti-social behaviour.Less

Intent in Disparate Treatment Litigation

Ann C. McGinley

in Masculinity at Work: Employment Discrimination through a Different Lens

This chapter examines the intent requirement in proving disparate treatment under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. It identifies three possible definitions of intent: purpose-to-harm, causation, ... More

This chapter examines the intent requirement in proving disparate treatment under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. It identifies three possible definitions of intent: purpose-to-harm, causation, and causation-plus, observes that most courts use the causation-plus model in defining intent, and argues that the causation definition is more appropriate given contemporary social science research. It then demonstrates that cognition experts explain that human beings create categories to process information efficiently, which causes stereotyping of members of out-groups. The chapter argues that this science illustrates why most people do not have explicit, conscious biases, but do have implicit (unconscious) biases that tend to favor in-groups such as whites, the able-bodied, and the young. The chapter discusses the social science literature on implicit biases and the potential means by which employers can eliminate discriminatory behaviors in the workplace. Finally, the chapter examines the way masculine structures and practices confirm our stereotypes about men and women.Less

Ethnocentrism Reconceived

in Us Against Them: Ethnocentric Foundations of American Opinion

This chapter proposes a theoretical framework to explain the nature of ethnocentrism. It suggests that ethnocentrism is a predisposition to divide human society into in-groups and out-groups that ... More

This chapter proposes a theoretical framework to explain the nature of ethnocentrism. It suggests that ethnocentrism is a predisposition to divide human society into in-groups and out-groups that plays an important part in matters of political consequence. The chapter also argues that ethnocentrism will be more or less important to public opinion on an issue depending on the ability of the issue to command the public's limited and fickle attention, and on how the particular issue is framed.Less

Introduction

Jan Walmsley and Simon Jarrett (eds)

in Intellectual Disability in the Twentieth Century: Transnational Perspectives on People, Policy, and Practice

The introduction explains the selection and range of countries that are covered by the book and offers a brief historiography of the field. It also discusses the use of life stories in intellectual ... More

The introduction explains the selection and range of countries that are covered by the book and offers a brief historiography of the field. It also discusses the use of life stories in intellectual disability history and analyses the differing roles that eugenics had placed in this history. An overview of chapters is then followed by a discussion of the complexities of language in intellectual disability history generally and in a transnational approach in particular. This section then brings some of the main themes of the book, in particular the role of families, problems of exclusion and inequality, the formation of out-groups and the question of progress. Finally the section discusses future possible transnational approaches in this field of study.Less

Individual Religion, Tolerance, and Universal Compassion

C. Daniel Batson

in Religion, Intolerance, and Conflict: A Scientific and Conceptual Investigation

This chapter examines recent work on the relationship between religion and intolerance towards out-groups. It looks at the various dimensions of religiosity and considers whether or not particular ... More

This chapter examines recent work on the relationship between religion and intolerance towards out-groups. It looks at the various dimensions of religiosity and considers whether or not particular prejudices are proscribed by the religions that research subjects adhere to. It argues that while extrinsic religion is associated with proscribed prejudice, intrinsic religion is not — but the latter is nevertheless associated with prejudices that are not proscribed by one's religion. In contrast, the quest orientation towards religion is not associated with either proscribed or non-proscribed prejudices and is associated with increased tolerance.Less

Introduction

Dennis C. Spies

in Immigration and Welfare State Retrenchment: Why the US Experience is not Reflected in Western Europe

By briefly summarizing the New Progressive Dilemma (NPD) debate, this introduction presents to the reader the general research question: does immigration necessarily lead to welfare cuts? It outlines ... More

By briefly summarizing the New Progressive Dilemma (NPD) debate, this introduction presents to the reader the general research question: does immigration necessarily lead to welfare cuts? It outlines the significance of relationships between immigrants and native citizens, showing how these relate to redistributive policies in the US and Western Europe—but with very different results. In the US, states with high minority populations tend to favor lower welfare benefits, whereas in cross-national comparisons no such depressing effect of immigration on welfare spending can easily be identified. The book applies the insights from comparative welfare state and party research to the NPD to explain this difference, analyzing the effect of immigration on welfare state retrenchment. Finally, the introduction presents the book’s overall line of reasoning and the structure of its chapters.Less