This document discusses social identity theory and the motivational and cognitive sources of prejudice. Social identity theory proposes that people categorize themselves into ingroups and outgroups, favoring the ingroup. Those with lower self-esteem tend to be more prejudiced. Cognitive sources include spontaneously categorizing people into groups based on perceived similarities and differences, seeing outgroups as more homogenous than ingroups, and perceiving distinctive individuals as having exaggerated qualities.

1. What are the Motivational Sources of
Prejudice?
Social Identity Theory
• Social Identity Theory: We categorize
people (ourselves included), we identify
ourselves with certain groups, and we
compare our group to other groups.
• Ingroup: “Us”—a group of people who
share a sense of belonging, a feeling of
common identity.
– Ingroup Bias: The tendency to favor
one’s own group.
• Outgroup: “Them”—a group that people
perceive as distinctly different from or
apart from their ingroup.

2. What are the Motivational Sources of Prejudice?
Social Identity
• Those whose self-image is low tend to be more prejudiced.
 Personal identity and social identity together feed self-
esteem.

3. What are the Cognitive Sources of Prejudice?
Categorization: Classifying People into Groups
Spontaneous Categorization
• We simplify our environment by categorizing things.
– Once a person or object is categorized as a member of a
group, it begins to take on the characteristics of that
group in our minds (stereotypes).
– Especially true if we are busy, tired, preoccupied,
emotionally aroused, or young.

4. What are the Cognitive Sources of Prejudice?
Categorization: Classifying People into Groups
Perceived Similarities and Differences
• Outgroup Homogeneity Effect: Perception of outgroup
members as more similar to one another that are ingroup
members. Thus “they are alike; we are diverse.”
• Own-Race Bias: The tendency for people to more
accurately recognize faces of their own race.

5. What are the Cognitive Sources of Prejudice?
Distinctiveness: Perceiving People Who Stand
Out
Distinctive People
• A distinct person in a group is perceived as having
exaggerated good and bad qualities.
• Stigma Consciousness: A person’s expectation of
being victimized by prejudice or discrimination.