Prejudice and Discrimination: Crash Course Psychology #39

CrashCourse2 minutes read

The shooting of Amadou Diallo by NYC police officers highlighted the impact of non-conscious biases on tragic outcomes, as discussed in Malcolm Gladwell's book "Blink." Implicit biases based on various factors can affect job opportunities, pay fairness, and even escalate to life-threatening situations, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and addressing these biases.

Insights

  • Malcolm Gladwell's "Blink" uses Amadou Diallo's case to illustrate how unconscious biases can result in tragic consequences, shedding light on the impact of implicit biases in various aspects of life.
  • The Implicit Association Test (IAT) is a tool that uncovers hidden biases, showing how prejudices based on race, gender, or other factors can influence job prospects, wage disparities, and discriminatory actions, emphasizing the pervasive nature of these biases in society.

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Recent questions

  • What incident involving Amadou Diallo is discussed in Malcolm Gladwell's book "Blink"?

    The fatal shooting by NYC police officers in 1999.

  • What are implicit biases based on, as mentioned in the Summary?

    Race, gender, age, religion, or sexual orientation.

  • What is the distinction between prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination according to the Summary?

    Prejudice is a negative attitude, stereotyping is cognitive, and discrimination involves actions.

  • How are implicit biases measured, as mentioned in the Summary?

    Through the Implicit Association Test (IAT) using timed categorization tasks.

  • What can in-group bias lead to, as highlighted in the Summary?

    Conflict and aggression between groups.

Related videos

Summary

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Unconscious biases impact decisions and behaviors

  • In February 1999, four New York City police officers fatally shot Amadou Diallo, a 23-year-old immigrant from Guinea, who was reaching for his wallet on the steps of his own apartment building.
  • Malcolm Gladwell's book "Blink" recounts Diallo's case as an example of non-conscious biases leading to tragic outcomes.
  • Implicit biases based on race, gender, age, religion, or sexual orientation can impact job opportunities, pay fairness, and even life-threatening situations.
  • Prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination are interconnected but distinct concepts, with prejudice being an unjustified negative attitude towards a group.
  • Stereotyping is a cognitive process that can be accurate or inaccurate, while discrimination involves acting on prejudiced attitudes.
  • The Implicit Association Test (IAT) measures implicit biases through timed categorization tasks, revealing hidden attitudes and beliefs.
  • Studies show that subtle prejudices can still persist, affecting job opportunities, wage equality, and discriminatory behavior.
  • In-group bias, driven by the "us vs. them" mentality, can lead to conflict and aggression between groups, even over arbitrary distinctions like wearing sneakers.
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