Re: Learning and Stereotyping

[Royce Simpson]

Check out the work of Staats & Staats (1958) whose studies of semantic generalization demonstrated that pairing words with negative connotations with nationality names (e.g. Swedish, German) would produce the expected emotional reactions.  It's not too difficult to see how this could contribute to prejudice feelings toward various ethnic groups.

Royce Simpson
Campbellsville University

Staats, A. W., & Staats, C. K. (1958). Attitudes established by classical conditioning.           Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 57, 37-40.

"Michael J. Kane" wrote:

Hi Tipsters!

My question to you all is:  Does anyone know of any good
experimental research linking classical conditioning to
the creation/maintenance of stereotypes (racial or otherwise)?
As always, I'm on the lookout for ways to help my undergrads
see the links between classical conditioning phenomena and significant "real world" problems.  Prejudice seems like it would
be a particularly ripe area in this regard.

-Mike

*****************************************************
Michael J. Kane
Psychology Department
Georgia State University
University Plaza
Atlanta, GA 30303-3083
phone: 404-651-0704
fax: 404-651-0753
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

"It is morally as bad not to care whether a thing
  is true or not, so long as it makes you feel good,
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