Academic Catalog

PSYC 22: PSYCHOLOGY OF PREJUDICE & DISCRIMINATION

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2022
Units: 4
Hours: 4 lecture per week (48 total per quarter)
Advisory: PSYC 1 or 1H.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Area VI: United States Cultures & Communities, Area IV: Social & Behavioral Sciences
Transferable: CSU/UC
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Each student will demonstrate knowledge of principles and methods that reflect the culture and values of the five dominant ethnic groups - African American, Asian American, Hispanic, Native American and White/Non Hispanic.
  • Each student will demonstrate their knowledge regarding the concept of stereotyping and it's relationship to discrimination.

Description

This course is an exploration of the psychological underpinnings of prejudice and discrimination. Investigates fundamental aspects of the mind and society that can lead to prejudice, conditions that can trigger discrimination, and complex psychological patterns that develop among different majority and non-majority groups. The course explores prejudice as a general phenomenon, as well as the unique experiences of prejudice against specific groups, including racial/ethnic, gender, sexual, and ability-status groups. Lastly, the course also covers solutions for how to reduce prejudice among these groups and others.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Describe concepts related to cognitive, personal, and societal aspects of prejudice and discrimination
  2. Compare and contrast research method used to measure prejudice and discrimination
  3. Evaluate cognitive processes and operations that can lead to prejudice and discrimination
  4. Evaluate theories of personality that can lead to prejudice and discrimination
  5. Explain the relationship between prejudice and discrimination
  6. Evaluate old-fashioned and contemporary forms of prejudice
  7. Explain experiences of prejudice and discrimination of a variety of social groups
  8. Critically analyze theories of cognition, racism, sexism, and sexual prejudice
  9. Analyze prejudice, discrimination, and the cultural influences of race using sociological theories and perspectives
  10. Analyze process which can be used to alleviate inter-group conflict and reduce prejudice and discrimination

Course Content

  1. Introduction to concepts
    1. Historical views of minority and majority groups
    2. Group privilege
    3. Stereotypes
    4. Prejudice
    5. Discrimination
    6. Racism, classism, sexism, sexual prejudice, age, ability, appearance
  2. Research methods
    1. The research process
      1. Hypothesis
      2. Theories
      3. The scientific method
    2. Research strategies
      1. Survey
      2. Correlational
      3. Experimental
      4. Ethnographic
    3. Measuring techniques
      1. Self-report
      2. Observational
      3. Behavioral
      4. Physiological
  3. Cognitive aspects of prejudice
    1. Social categorization—types and reasons
    2. Origins of stereotypes
    3. Functions of stereotypes
    4. Stereotype activation
    5. Stereotype application
    6. Attitude formation and modification
  4. Personality and prejudice
    1. The role of self-esteem in the development of prejudice
    2. Relationship between personality types and prejudice
    3. The role of personal values in the development of prejudice
  5. From prejudice to discrimination
    1. Interpersonal discrimination
    2. Discrimination in organizations
    3. Hate crimes
  6. Old-fashioned and contemporary forms of prejudice
    1. Understand the transformation of prejudice from Jim Crow to present day
    2. Modern-symbolic prejudice
    3. Aversive prejudice
    4. Ambivalent prejudice
  7. Experience of prejudice and discrimination
    1. Experiences of various non-majority groups, including, but not limited to: Jews, Muslims, Hispanic Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, women, homosexuals, transgender individuals
    2. Attitudinal responses to discrimination
    3. Consequences of prejudice and discrimination
    4. Stereotype threat
    5. Vulnerability to stress
    6. Threats to self-esteem
  8. Gender-based prejudice and discrimination
    1. Impact of gender role expectations
    2. Women and the workplace
    3. Ambivalent sexism theory
    4. Attitudes and stereotypes toward sexual minorities
  9. Age, ability, appearance
    1. Ageism defined and instances explored
    2. Discussion about what is a "disability"
    3. Different aspects of prejudice toward appearance, including attractiveness, height, and obesity
  10. Sociological theories and perspectives
    1. Explore the relationship between power and prejudice
    2. Analyze dynamics between and within majority and non-majority groups from a micro, mezzo, and macro levels
  11. Reducing prejudice and discrimination
    1. Stereotype suppression
    2. Self-regulation
    3. Conditions that lead to successful intergroup contact
    4. Workplace interventions and affirmative action

Lab Content

Not applicable.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

When taught as an online distance learning section, students and faculty need ongoing and continuous internet and email access.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Multiple choice quizzes
Essay exams
Research papers
Summaries and analysis of primary source research articles
Personal reaction papers
Problem-solving exercises
Midterms
Final exams

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lectures
In-class readings
Videos
Class discussion
Active learning and group activities

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Whitley, Bernard E., and Mary E. Kite. The Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination, 3rd ed.. 2016.

Jackson, Lynee M.. The Psychology of Prejudice: From Attitudes to Social Action, 2nd ed.. 2020.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. Reading assignments:
    1. Reading and studying of textbook
    2. Reading and critically analyzing primary source research articles
    3. Reading current events articles that relate to prejudice and discrimination
  2. Writing assignments:
    1. Research papers
    2. Essay exam questions
    3. Personal reaction papers

Discipline(s)

Psychology