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Teaching Students about In-Group Favoritism and the Minimal Groups Paradigm

Authors :
James M. Tyler
Linda M. Isbell
Source :
Teaching of Psychology. 30:127-130
Publication Year :
2003
Publisher :
SAGE Publications, 2003.

Abstract

Research on minimal groups demonstrates that arbitrarily creating 2 groups leads to the development of in-group favoritism. Experiments using the minimal groups paradigm show students how easily in-group biases can be created simply by categorizing others. This article describes an in-class activity that demonstrates the power of categorization. Students completed a minimal groups experiment either before or after viewing the video A Class Divided. Regardless of when they viewed the video, students rated their arbitrarily assigned in-group more positively and less negatively than their out-group. These findings spurred lively discussion about the possible relation among categorization, discrimination, and prejudice. Students enjoyed the activity and indicated that it was a valuable technique for demonstrating in-group bias.

Details

ISSN :
15328023 and 00986283
Volume :
30
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Teaching of Psychology
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........920194398a3e72569a747b9dfc3f295c
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1207/s15328023top3002_10