Resource Key
When accessing content use the numbers below to guide you:
LEVEL 1
brief, basic information laid out in an easy-to-read format. May use informal language. (Includes most news articles)
LEVEL 2
provides additional background information and further reading. Introduces some subject-specific language.
LEVEL 3
lengthy, detailed information. Frequently uses technical/subject-specific language. (Includes most analytical articles)
Linked Databases
- JSTOR This link opens in a new window
Scholarly resources on JSTOR include Archival and Current Journals, Books, and Primary Sources.
- World Book Encyclopedia This link opens in a new window
Online version of the complete reference work along with dictionary, atlas, links, magazines, historical documents, audio, video, images, and 3D photograph
- Britannica Schools This link opens in a new window
Britannica School covers the core subject areas of English, Maths, Science and History. Interactive lessons, activities, games, stories, worksheets, manipulatives, study guides and research tools.
Key Terms
- biasa particular tendency, trend, inclination, feeling, or opinion, especially one that is preconceived or unreasoned: illegal bias against older job applicants; the magazine’s bias toward art rather than photography;
our strong bias in favour of the idea. - discriminationtreatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit:
racial and religious intolerance and discrimination. - nationalismnationalism is the belief that a particular nation and its culture, people, and values are superior to those of other nations and thus that one's own nation will benefit from acting independently, rather then in coordination with other nations.
- prejudicean unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason.
- sexismattitudes or behavior based on traditional stereotypes of gender roles.
- schemaa schema is a cognitive framework or concept that helps organize and interpret information. Schemas can be useful because they allow us to take shortcuts in interpreting the vast amount of information that is available in our environment. However, these mental frameworks also cause us to exclude pertinent information to focus instead only on things that confirm our pre-existing beliefs and ideas. Schemas can contribute to stereotypes and make it difficult to retain new information that does not conform to our established ideas about the world.
- stereotypestereotypes are beliefs about people based on their membership in a particular group. Stereotypes can be positive, negative, or neutral. Stereotypes based on gender, ethnicity, or occupation are common in many societies.
Introduction
Welcome to the research guide for Stereotypes in the Media. This guide has been created for Year 11 students examining stereotypes in the media and responding to the comment “... it would be interesting to find out what goes on in that moment when someone looks at you and draws all sorts of conclusions.” by Malcolm Gladwell.
Psychologists once believed that only bigoted people used stereotypes. Now the study of unconscious bias is revealing the unsettling truth: We all use stereotypes, all the time, without knowing it. We have met the enemy of equality, and the enemy is us.
Prejudice and Discrimination
Crash Course (2014, November 17). Prejudice and Discrimination [Video File]. https://youtu.be/7P0iP2Zm6a4
Stereotypes
- Cherry, K. (2015, December 11). What is prejudice? Retrieved from https://www.verywell.com/what-is-prejudice-2795476Prejudice is a baseless and usually negative attitude toward members of a group. Common features of prejudice include negative feelings, stereotyped beliefs and a tendency to discriminate against members of the group. While specific definitions of prejudice given by social scientists often differ, most agree that it involves prejudgments (usually negative) about members of a group.
- Stossel, J., & Kendal, K. (2016, September 15). The psychology of stereotypes. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=2442521&page=1Psychologists say we categorize -- or stereotype -- by age and race and gender, because our brains are wired to do so automatically.
- McLeod, S. A. (2015). Stereotypes. Retrieved from www.simplypsychology.org/katz-braly.htmlThis site defines stereotypes, research on stereotypes stereotype threats.
One advantage of a stereotype is that it enables us to respond rapidly to situations because we may have had a similar experience before.
One disadvantage is that it makes us ignore differences between individuals; therefore we think things about people that might not be true (i.e. make generalizations). - Sparknotes. (2016). Stereotypes. Retrieved from http://www.sparknotes.com/psychology/psych101/socialpsychology/section2.rhtmlStereotypes are beliefs about people based on their membership in a particular group. Stereotypes can be positive, negative, or neutral. Stereotypes based on gender, ethnicity, or occupation are common in many societies.
Bias - The Uncomfortable Truth
- Paul, A. (2016, June 9). Where Bias Begins: The Truth About Stereotypes. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/199805/where-bias-begins-the-truth-about-stereotypesPsychologists once believed that only bigoted people used stereotypes. Now the study of unconscious bias is revealing the unsettling truth: We all use stereotypes, all the time, without knowing it. We have met the enemy of equality, and the enemy is us.
I'm Not Racist But...
SBS Insight (2012, March 21). Insight - I'm not racist, but... [Video File]. https://youtu.be/lfTUMc7yS54
Media Influence
- Oliver, M. B., Kim, K., Hoewe, J., Chung, M., Ash, E., Woolley, J. K., & Shade, D. D. (2015). Media-Induced Elevation as a Means of Enhancing Feelings of Intergroup Connectedness. Journal Of Social Issues, 71(1), 106-122.The majority of research on media counter-stereotyping of race/ethnicity has tended to employ positive portrayals or counter-stereotypical exemplars as a primary strategy in eliciting positive attitudes among White participants. In contrast, this article reports the results of an experiment on the unique role of affective responses to media messages as a mechanism in inducing greater feelings of connectedness with a diversity of racial/ethnic groups. Our focus is on the affective response of elevation specifically, which refers to feelings of being moved, touched, and inspired by images of people engaged in morally beautiful acts such as love, generosity, and kindness. Results show that the experience of elevation in response to inspiring videos was associated with heightened feelings of overlap between the self and humanity, with this overlap associated with greater feelings of connectedness with those from a diversity of racial/ethnic groups. This connection was also associated with more favorable attitudes.
