Self-Affirmations and Prejudice

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how prejudice and negative stereotyping has devastating effects on individuals' self esteem and self worth, which extends to societal problems on a larger scale. The paper presents a study that investigates whether positive self-affirmations influence the likelihood of individuals holding prejudicial and stereotypical beliefs and if suggested self-concepts are projected onto others who are often stereotyped. The paper shows how the findings match the hypothesis that the promotion of self-integrity through suggestion of a positive, self-affirming belief acts to reduce or diminish prejudicial belief of others.

From the Paper:

"What functions do stereotypes and prejudice have for individuals that believe in them? Numerous research studies have shown that holding prejudices results in an increase in perceived self-worth and self-integrity (Fein & Spencer, 1997; Govorun, Fuegen & Payne, 2006; Newman, Duff & Baumeister, 1997; Seibt & Forster, 2004). In other words, holding prejudicial beliefs that are consistent with commonly held stereotypes led to individuals' feeling better about themselves, or having an improved self-concept. This phenomenon was investigated in detail by Fein & Spencer (1997), who sought to examine the role that self-image plays in the maintenance of negative perceptions of others and prejudice."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Fein, S., Spencer, S. (1997). Prejudice as self-image maintenance: affirming the self through derogating others. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73(1), 31-44.
• Govorun, O., Fuegen, K., Payne, B. (2006). Stereotypes focus defensive projection. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 32(6), 781-93.
• Newman, L., Duff, K., Baumeister, R. (1997). A new look at defensive projection: thought suppression, accessibility, and biased person perception. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 72(5), 980-1001.
• Seibt, B., Forster, J. (2004). Stereotype threat and performance: how self-stereotypes influence processing by inducing regulatory foci. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 87(1), 38-56.

More papers on Self-Affirmations and Prejudice:

• Essay # 10076 : "The Effect of Self-image Maintenance on Prejudice"
• Book Review # 97319 : "Pride and Prejudice"--A Review"
• Book Review # 93711 : "Pride and Prejudice"--an Analysis"

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