Racial and ethnic groups are socially constructed categories distinguished by physical characteristics. While biology plays a role through phenotypes like skin color, race is also a social construct. Ethnicity refers more to cultural traits like language and religion. Minority groups have less power and control than dominant groups in a society. Stereotypes are exaggerated beliefs about groups that often develop from fear or a threat to the dominant group. Prejudice involves negative attitudes toward others based on characteristics. Discrimination involves actions that exclude or oppress groups. Racism includes beliefs of inherent superiority and the subjugation of others. Integration aims for equality, while assimilation requires abandoning one's own culture. Cultural pluralism values diversity within a society.

1. Race & Ethnicity

2. Racial Groups
O Racial group
O A socially
constructed
category of people
who are
distinguished from
others by select
physical
characteristics

3. Biological Race
O Biological race
O Phenotypes
O Visible anatomical features
O Skin color, hair texture, body & facial
shape, etc.
O Genotypes
O Genetics inherited from parents

4. One Drop Rule

5. Social Race
O 2000 US Census

6. Ethnicity
O Originally referred to national origin
O Today may also refer to religion, language
or region
O Based on cultural traits that reflect
national origin, religion & language

7. Ethnicity
O Ethnocentrism
O Ethnic enclaves

8. Minority Groups
O Minority group
O Refers to a groups access to power and
status within a society
O Significantly less control or power over
their own lives than members of dominant
groups
O Fewer life chances

9. Minority Groups
O Distinguished from other groups in terms
of where the group is situated in society’s
social hierarchy
O Social status of group is defined by the
extent to which the group departs from the
norms established by the dominant group
O WASPs

10. Stereotypes
O Exaggerated beliefs usually associated
with a group of people and based on race,
ethnicity, gender, religion or sexual
orientation
O Generally begin with a particular belief
about an undesirable characteristics of a
group
O Often develop out of a fear or when the
dominant group feels threatened by a
particular group

11. Stereotypes
O “Kernel of truth”
O Media
O Rarely a positive image

12. Prejudice
O An attitude, usually
negative, usually
based on racial or
ethnic
characteristics
O Harbored thoughts &
beliefs lead to
categorical rejection

13. Economic Theories of
Prejudice
O Both competition and conflict among
groups are inevitable when different
groups desire commodities that are in
short supply
O Racial prejudice is most present during
economic turmoil
O Labeling someone as inferior justifies their
exploitation

14. Psychological Theories of
Prejudice
O Prejudice satisfies psychic needs or
compensates for some defect in
personality
O Scapegoating
O Projection

15. Frustration-Aggression Theory
O Groups who strive
repeatedly to achieve
their goals and fail
repeatedly eventually
become frustrated and
this leads to seeking an
outlet for this frustration
through displaced
aggression

16. Normative Theory
O Schaeffer 2005
O Peers and social influences either
encourage tolerance or intolerance toward
others

17. Authoritative Personality
Theory
O Some people are more inclined to
prejudice than others due to differences in
personality
O Prejudiced people are characterized by:
O Rigidity of outlook
O Intolerance
O Suggestibility
O Dislike for ambiguity
O Irrational attitudes

18. Discrimination
O Overt behavior or actions
O Categorical exclusion of members of a
specific group from certain rights,
opportunities and privileges
O Institutional discrimination
O The continuing exclusion or oppression of
a group as a result of criteria established
by an institution

19. Racism
O The belief that one racial group or
category is inherently superior to others
O Three components:
O Belief that one race is superior to others
O Ideology that justifies the subjugation or
exploitation of another group
O Beliefs are acted

20. Scientific Racism

21. Racism
O Institutional racism
O Racist ideas and practices are embodied in
folkways, mores or legal structures of
various institutions

22. Integration
O Ethnicity becomes insignificant and
everyone can freely and fully participate in
the social, economic and political
mainstream

23. Assimilation
O Individuals and groups forsake their own
cultural tradition to become part of a
different group and tradition

24. Assimilation
O Melting pot
O Each group contributes
a bit of its own culture
and absorbs aspects of
other cultures
O A+B+C=D
O Anglo conformity
O “Americanization”
O A+B+C=A

25. Cultural Pluralism
O Multiculturalism
O A+B+C=A+B+C
O “Hyphenated”

26. Segregation
O The physical and social separation of
groups or categories of people
O De jure & de facto segregation

27. Mass Expulsion & Genocide

28. Eugenics