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Social discrimination and tolerance in intergroup relations: reactions to intergroup difference
1Department of Social Psychology, University of Jena, Germany.
Summary
Social discrimination arises when intergroup differences are deemed inferior, leading to hostility. Tolerance emerges when differences are accepted as normative within a shared social identity.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Intergroup Relations
- Sociology
Background:
- Social discrimination and intergroup relations are complex phenomena.
- Understanding how individuals perceive and react to intergroup differences is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a theoretical framework for understanding social discrimination.
- To explore the conditions fostering tolerance and intergroup acceptance.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis based on self-categorization theory.
- Examining the role of superordinate categories and prototypes in intergroup judgment.
Main Results:
- Discrimination occurs when outgroup differences are judged as non-normative or inferior.
- Tolerance is associated with perceiving outgroup differences as normative or positive.
- Generalizing ingroup attributes to inclusive categories fuels discrimination.
Conclusions:
- Intergroup perceptions are shaped by the criteria derived from inclusive superordinate categories.
- Tolerance can be a result of either category exclusion or inclusive category representation.
- The perceived normativity of outgroup differences critically determines intergroup relations.