Ethnocentrism
This is an excerpt from the paper...
Ethnocentrism refers to the tendency human beings have to see their own group as the norm and to judge others by that standard, and specifically this is a process undertaken when members of one society or social group look at and judge members of another. Marger (1994) notes some of the characteristics of ethnic groups. These groups have unique cultural traits. They are built on a sense of community. Membership in the group is generally ascribed, meaning that it is a characteristic acquired at birth and not subject to basic change. Ethnic groups have territoriality as they occupy a distinct territory within the larger society. They are marked by ethnocentrism, the tendency to judge other groups by the standards and values of the individual's own group (Marger, 1994, 13-17). Such a tendency contributes to racial tensions within a society and to similar problems between nations. Attribution theory is concerned with how we use information to make causal inferences (Krupat, 1982, 13). Attributions are made by individuals and groups all the time based on the degree of information they possess about a given perception and on the psychological processes that are engaged in making use of this information. Biases have been identified by several researchers examining the attribution process. First, it is believed that we have a tendency to overestimate the influence of personal, dispositional characteristics and underestimate the influence of situational factors when we m
. . .
(1982). Psychology is social. Dallas, Texas: Scott, Foresman and Company.
Marger, M.N. (1994). Race and ethnic relations. Belmont, California: Wadsworth.
I. Ethnocentrism--Introduction
A. Definition
1. Group norms
2. Characteristics of ethnic groups
a. Cultural traits
b. Community
c. Territoriality
B. Racial tensions
II. Attribution theory
A. Use of information
B. making inferences
C. Attributions by individuals and groups
D. Biases
1. Overestimation of personal influence--"fundamental attribution error"
2. Tendency to see own behavior as normal--"egocentric bias"
3. Success attributed to personal attributes--"ego-protective bias"
E. Propositions of attribution theory
1. social in origin
2. social in its reference and object
3. social in that it is common to members
F. Social attributions may be based on ethnocentrism
III. Foreign policy and ethnocentrism
IV. Conclusion
Achieved status is something acquired through effort and so based on individual achievement, while ascribed status is given to individuals based on their membership in a group or their identification with a group. American society places a high value on achieved status and p
. . .
Some common words found in the essay are:
Individuals American, , II Attribution, Conclusion Achieved, III Ascribed, Publishers Achieved, II Class, ascribed status, Ethnocentrism--Introduction Definition, Gudykunst WB, Marger MN, achieved status, american society, class differences, attribution theory, social attributions, status powerful, attribution social, ascribed status powerful, tendency own behavior, origin 2, social origin, reference object 3, social attributions based, social reference object,
Approximate Word count = 1238
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page)
More Essays on Ethnocentrism
|
Customer Service
to Over
32,000 Professionally Written Papers!!!
