Media in intergroup relations

1
Media in intergroup relations

• Implications of/for the media

2
Categorization

• Though rarely discussed, the first and necessary
  step in the development of group evaluations
  (including prejudice) is the definition/social
  construction of a group/category of people
• All categories are in some sense constructed
• Basis for category may be biological,
  ideological/cultural, personality-related
• Membership may be assigned or chosen

3
Categorization

• No categories, even the most obvious are
  absolutely valid. Some degree of social
  construction always exists.
• Sex (gender)
• Race
• Class
• Religion
• Occupation
• Nationality

4
Categorization

• The more distant from a biological basis group
  membership becomes, the more constructed one
  might say they are
• Ideological work must be done to make
  categories real--that is, to give them meaning
• Regardless of their original basis, categories
  take on excess meaning through the processes of
  formation and application

5
Excess meaning

• Categories take on meaning beyond the original
  characteristics and/or reasons for their
  formation
• In-group bias
• Formation of the other
• Function/power value of representations
• Cultural heritage

6
Excess meaning

• Groups are assigned characteristics that go
  beyond those in original definition
• Powerholder advantage in naming
• Universalizing of individual characteristics of
  those in direct contact with majority, etc.
• Group actions interpreted
• Psychologizing interpretations
• Group conflict
• Assignment of blame to groups

7
A hierarchy of categories

• Categories are assigned a position relative to
  each other
• Relative importance (salience)
• situational salience
• social/historical salience
• Relations among categories
• cross pressures
• mutual reinforcement

8
Note assigned characteristics may be false

• Groups may be perceived in a false light
• Misinterpretation of behavior, actions
• Majority, power groups need for explanation that
  jibes with social action either by ingroup or
  outgroup
• Widespread distribution of biased depictions
• economic logic of media representations
• Slight group tendencies magnified by
  categorization process
• Blaming the victim

9
Assignment of group characteristics to individuals

• Group characteristics are assumed to be inherent
  in typical group members
• Stereotyping
• The belief that individuals in a category will
  reflect characteristics assigned to the group
• Overprediction from statistical tendencies
• Tversky and Kahneman
• Resonance a la Gerbner
• Function of individual-level explanations

10
Attribution

• Assigned group characteristics and consequent
  assumptions about individual group members
  serve as explanations for social events and
  actions
• Psychologizing tendency in the U.S.
• Fundamental attribution error

11
Categories have social impact

• Subject is called upon to locate herself as
  either a member or nonmember
• Processes of bias in information processing and
  in behavior seem to be nearly automatic
• Theorists have tended to assume anti-outgroup,
  but pro-ingroup may be more valid
• Original actions may lead to spiraling effects
• Sherif

12
Media theory and others

• Political economy
• A. Power groups control means of societal
  communication, manipulate content in favor of
  prejudice, etc. in ways that help to maintain
  their position. Active opposition to marginal
  voice access.

13
Political economy

• B. Working of the market favors portrayals that
  cater to popular prejudices. Marginalized groups
  cannot develop economically viable media. Those
  with money will not invest, those out of the
  mainstream will not economically support ventures
  (advertising).

14
Critical cultural study

• The definition of the other serves to justify
  the distribution of power and wealth, reassure
  majority and adjust minority groups to their
  fate. Political/social discussion takes place
  within presupposed truths of which categories
  are one significant part. Otherness allows
  majority to explain inequality, ignore legitimate
  demands and blame victims for their own
  victimization.

15
Mainstream, liberal pluralist research

• Media depictions have varied impact on prejudice,
  with effects both supporting and opposing
  stereotyping.
• Prime-time depictions reflect rather than drive
  overall cultural forces
• Media portrayals range from negative
  stereotypical to liberatory depictions
• Critique of white racism
• Invisibility

16
Positive effects of media

• Diffusion of information on race/sex, etc. topics
• Pressure on government to address discrimination,
  etc.
• Media campaigns against racism

17
Positive effects of media

• Production and dissemination of content opposing
  racism
• Exposure of hate crimes, etc.
• Depiction of groups in non- or counter-stereotypic
  al ways
• Preservation of subcultures
• Development of community among group members
• In-group solidarity

18
Negative effects of media

• Stereotypic characterizations
• Many content analyses have identified sexist,
  racist, etc. depictions
• Generation of a culture of prejudice
• Viewer acceptance of images
• Reduced concern over plight of minorities
• Depiction of causes of group troubles
• Explains poverty, health and crime problems,
  lower status jobs, etc.

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Potential unintended effects

• Acts to legitimate categories, maintain and
  disseminate meaning attached to them
• Introduce categories, associated meaning to
  cultures, societies where they do not currently
  exist
• Influences self-conception
• Imposition of positive/negative evaluations
• Choice of affiliations according to social
  evaluation of groups

20
Potential unintended effects

• Depiction of inherent, basic, unending conflict
  between categories
• In-group bias lead to discrimination without
  prejudice?
• Boomerang effect of providing support to
  racist/sexist ideas as content is selectively
  attended to, interpreted, etc.
• All in the Family

21
Questions of categorization and media

• Do media depictions lead, follow, both or neither
• nature of depictions
• What impact do media have in group interactions
  cognitive and behavioral?
• Is media fare read into a set of socially
  structured interpretations based on
  categorization?

22
Minorities on television
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Blacks in cop shows Officers
24
Blacks in cop shows Offenders
25
Latinos/Hispanic characters

• Tremendously underrepresented (2)
• Ramirez Berg outlined 6 stereotypes
• Mexican bandit
• Harlot
• Male buffoon
• Clown (female counterpart of male buffoon)
• Latin lover
• Dark lady (mysterious and alluring but aloof)