The Psychology of Prejudice

Discussions of prejudice inevitably reveal the ways in which prejudice is linked with competition and social injustice, and the role that religious and political ideologies play in shaping attitudes. This book provides an accessible yet scholarly review of social psychological theory on prejudice with the goal of integrating recent theories about its causes. Several emerging trends and lines of research are highlighted in this book, including: Essentialist and social constructivist approaches to understanding differences; Evolutionary and intergroup explanations of prejudice; Ideological systems and developmental theories; Cognitive processes and social neuroscience; Links among prejudice, environmental issues, and speciesism. In addition to its rich theoretical content, the book reviews research on reducing prejudice, with an emphasis on intergroup and institutional strategies. It also discusses collective action to promote social justice and the difficult question of the possible drawbacks of prejudice reduction. With its thoughtfully selected reviews, numerous real-life examples, and novel content, this book will appeal to students and their educators, as well as researchers surveying or investigating the field of prejudice and diversity.