Racism, Ethnocentrism, and Social Responsibility
General Directions:
You must divide the paper in to the following sections or headings (Roman numerals), or it will not be accepted.
Please write a minimum of 750 words in which you accomplish the following:
I. Definitions
A. Define racism.
B. Define discrimination.
And cite your sources for each within the text of your paper and in the sources section, using APA style, in both places.
II. Psychological Concepts
A. Define each of the following 5 concepts SPECIFICALLY and CLEARLY EXPLAIN HOW EACH CONCEPT IS RELATED TO OR CONTRIBUTES TO THE PHENOMENA OF RACISM/DISCRIMINATION.
(The 5 concepts below are the ONLY ones you may apply to your example below.)
And cite your sources for each within the text of your paper and in the sources section, using APA style, in both places.
1. Ethnocentrism
2. Fundamental attribution error
3. Learned helplessness
4. Self-fulfilling prophecy
5. Victim Blaming
III. Example
A. Describe an experience you have learned about from the media (news, internet, newspaper, magazine, etc.) with racism and/or discrimination. DO NOT USE A PERSONAL EXAMPLE OR ONE OF SOMEONE YOU KNOW. Make sure your example is of a documented case (like George Floyd) and MAKE SURE TO CITE, IN APA STYLE, WHERE YOU GOT THE EXAMPLE (website, television news, etc.).
1. Apply at least two of the five concepts above to that experience, AND CLEARLY EXPLAIN EACH CONCEPT HOW THAT CONCEPT IS EVIDENCED IN YOUR EXAMPLE.
IV. Social Responsibility
A. Define personal or individual social responsibility. And cite your sources for each within the text of your paper and in the sources section, using APA style, in both places.
B. Reflect on and specify what social responsibility means to you personally.
C. Determine and list (specifically) at least 3 ways in which you can be socially responsible in regards to matters of race and/or discrimination.
D. Summarize the personal and societal benefits of being socially responsible.
V. Sources
Use at least 3 reliable sources to research these concepts. You should start with your textbook since you are looking to LEARN these concepts before you can apply them. Your text can be included in your three required sources. You should then watch my video in the Media Gallery for help understanding these concepts. This lecture can also be used as one of your sources. You may use magazines and newspapers and other media sources. Remember that you have to learn these concepts, so go to sites that teach the concept. Journal articles are not usually helpful in doing that. For definitions, most .org websites are good, and any .edu site will be good. You can also use psychological sites such as:
http://psychcentral(dot)com/Links to an external site.
https://www(dot)psychologytoday(dot)com/usLinks to an external site.
https://www(dot)spring(dot)org(dot)uk/Links to an external site.
https://www(dot)simplypsychology(dot)org/ Links to an external site.
DO NOT USE WIKIPEDIA (ever, in college).
DO NOT USE GENERAL DICTIONARIES.
DO NOT USE ENCYCLOPEDIAS SUCH AS BRITANICA.
Provide your sources in APA style (the Citation Machine will put things in APA style for you (http://www(dot)citationmachine(dot)net/)
Racism
Name
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Due Date
Racism
I Definitions
Racism is a term that describes the belief in the inherent superiority or inferiority of individuals or groups based on their ethnicity, which often results in unequal treatment or disadvantage for those who are of a different ethnicity (Trawalter, Bart-Plange, & Hoffman, 2020). On the other hand, discrimination is a term used to describe the denial of human or legal rights due to an individual because of certain characteristics like ethnicity, religion, and age, among others (American Psychological Association, 2022).
II Psychological Concepts
Ethnocentrism is a psychological concept that describes the tendency to view one's own culture, ethnicity, or nationality as superior to others, leading to a bias against other cultures or ethnic groups (Christopher & Leary, 2007). This bias can result in discrimination and racism by promoting an "us versus them" mentality. Ethnocentrism can contribute to racism when individuals believe that their race is superior to others, leading them to view people from other races as inferior or less deserving of opportunities and resources.
Fundamental attribution error describes a cognitive bias that occurs when a person attributes the behavior of others to internal or dispositional factors while ignoring the influence of situational factors (Christopher & Leary, 2007). The bias can contribute to racism by leading people to overemphasize the role of individual characteristics, such as race or ethnicity, in explaining behavior, while ignoring the influence of external factors, such as poverty or discrimination. This can contribute to the perpetuation of negative stereotypes and the justification of discriminatory policies and practices.
Learned helplessness is a psychological condition in which individuals come to believe that they are unable to control their circumstances, often as a result of repeated negative experiences (Christopher & Leary, 2007). The condition can contribute to racism by leading individuals from marginalized groups to feel powerless and unable to challenge discriminatory practices and policies.
The self-fulfilling prophecy describes an instance where false expectation based on unfounded belief influences the individual behavior, thus tending towards the confirmation of the unfounded belief. The phenomenon can contribute to racism by leading individuals to act in ways that reinforce negative stereotypes, and by creating a self-perpetuating cycle of discrimination (Christopher & Leary, 2007). For example, if police officers believe that individuals from certain racial or ethnic groups are more likely to be involved in criminal activity, they may be more likely to target these individuals, leading to a higher rate of arrests and convictions among members of these groups.
Victim blaming is the tendency to blame individuals for the harm or injustice they experience while downplaying the role of systemic factors or social structures. The tendency contributes to racism by leading people to assume that members of certain ethnic groups are responsible for the discrimination they experience, rather than acknowledging the impact of historical and ongoing discrimination and prejudice (Christopher & Leary, 2007).
III Example
The fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia by three white men is an example of racism and discrimination reported in various media houses in the United States. As an African American, Arbery was shot because three men thought he was a burglar. When aske...