GSW Possible Implications of Social Neuroscience Research on Stereotypes and Prejudice Essay

Overview: Explore the possible implications of social neuroscience research on stereotypes and prejudice

1. Briefly describe the issue of whether social categorization is an automatic or controlled form of cognition. This should include a definition of the difference between automatic and controlled psychological processes.
2. The concept of implicit (unconscious) bias is that everyone is judgmental and biased against people from other social groups. Do you agree with this view? Make an argument for your case.
3. If stereotypes and prejudice are entirely automatic brain processes, then maybe there isn’t much hope for overcoming racism and prejudice in our society. We judge people effortlessly with little or no thought, and cannot really stop ourselves from making steroetyped decisions. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
4. The He and colleagues article suggests that there is an early automatic component and a later controlled (more deliberate) component to social categorization. Does this seem like a plausible alternative to the view that social categorization is completely automatic? Is there an early biased component to our social thoughts and then a later editing of these biased thoughts to be more unbiased and fair to people from other groups? Take a Test (harvard.edu)

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