BRIDGING SOCIAL GAPS

Motivating people to work for diversity

Presented by James Manuel, Psy.D.

MILLWOOD HOSPITAL

September 12

2014

Presentation Overview

Social Distance: Keeping us from a just society

Measuring and predicting social distance How distance hurts us Why it matters to you Tools for closing the gaps

BRIDGING SOCIAL GAPSINTRO TO SOCIAL DISTANCE

definition Social distance constitutes one element in a family of

related concepts such as prejudice, stereotypes, and ethnocentrism.

Broadly defined, social distance refers to how close members of a group feel towards members of another group. It ranges from intimacy to remoteness and repugnance (Yuchtman-Yaar & Inbar, 1986).

History

When did this all begin?• Big Bang• Adam & Eve• Part of nature

Why does it persist?• Low motivation to change• Lack of discussion

How can we work to change things?• Reduce your contribution• Help raise awareness

Historical Examples of Separatism

God & man Man & woman Adults & children

Person & person Homosexual & Heterosexual

Rich & poor

Nation & Nation Disabled & Able-bodied White & Non-white

Family & family Communist & Democratic Liberal & Conservative

Black & White Jew & Christian Thin & obese

Beautiful & ugly Muslim & Jew North & South

East & West Protestant & Catholic Old & young

American Slave Trade

American Slave Trade

American Slave Trade

Jim Crow

Nazi Occupation

Patriotism and solidarity?

Persecution of Jews

Abu Ghraib

Haves & Have nots

Family Violence

Results from Social Distance studies

Different ethnic groups have different levels of power & privilege.

The dominant group sets standards for superiority and inferiority.

To increase status groups must increase their similarity to the culturally dominant group.

All groups consistently rank themselves higher than they are ranked by other groups.

To separate or come together… That is the question. Is social distancing malicious or benign? Is it good or bad? Who gets hurt?

VIDEO: Chappelle Show Black White Supremist

We can measure Social Distance

POPULAR TESTS: Bogardus’ Scale & IAT Tests measure our comfort in engaging in

relationships with people from different social groups.

Bogardus Scale ex. Would you marry? Would you accept as a neighbor? Would you exclude from your country?

IAT: Example: http://www.understandingprejudice.org/iat/index2.htm

Prediction Models

Instrumental approach: • Based on interest and goals

Conflict model: • Based on domination, control, and subjugation

Resource-Dependency model: • Based on one group controlling valuable resources

3 WAYS TO GET ALONG

Three types of interactions: – Symmetrical (High / High)

• Groups seek to maintain equally great social distances

– Symmetrical (Low / Low)• Groups are mutually inclined toward closeness

– Asymmetrical (High / Low)• One group seeks to increase social distance while

the other tries to decrease it

CLASSIC EXAMPLE

Social distance in Israeli-Arab conflict: A resource dependency analysis (Yuchtman-Yaar & Inbar, 1986).

Results: Outcomes match predictions…

- Israelis desire more distance from Palestinians, while Palestinians desire to be closer.

- Egyptians are unwilling to have as close a relationship as the Israelis would like to have with them.

The Psychological Gap How do we decide if someone is similar or different; near or far?

– High construal = Abstract = Distal (far) – Low construal = Concrete = Proximal (near)

• *Ex. Personal ambitions can be abstractly represented as “being someone” or more concretely as “being a successful playwright.”

• *Ex. A person with average sight may abstractly view a speaker at their new job orientation who is blind as a disabled person, or more concretely as a knowledgeable professional.

Construal level is influenced by background and experiences, attitudes, mood and affect, cognitive ability, etc. The same object can be construed in many ways, at different levels of abstraction.

Video: A Class Divided (Blue Eyes Brown Eyes)

Social Rejection of Persons with Disabilities

Cultural views about mental illness – More likely to be violent. – Less often perceived as potential friends (Gordon, Tantillo,

Feldman, Perrone, 2004).

Social Interactions between those labeled as Mentally Retarded (MR) and those with “normal” cognitive functioning. – Workers without MR often have three times more interaction with

coworkers also without MR than those with MR (Ferguson, McDonnell, and Drew, 1993).

Social Rejection of Persons with Disabilities (Cont’d)

Gordon’s study found that those who have had more contact with disability issues expressed similar discomfort as those without contact (Gordon,

Tantillo, Feldman, Perrone, 2004). In studies examining attitudes towards disabling

conditions, mental retardation and mental illness have consistently been cited as the least socially accepted (Lyons and Hayes, 1993).

Video: Pumpkin (2002)

WHY DO YOU CARE?

Effects on Job Performance Professional Conduct Professional Relationships Creating a Positive Work Environment

Suggestions for bridging the gaps

1) Increase your awareness 2) Re-evaluate your assumptions 3) Be transformed by diverse groups 4) Engage in an ongoing dialogue 5) Be a lover of peace & justice

References Amodio, D. M.., Devine, P.G. (2006). Stereotyping and evaluation in implicit race bias:

Evidence for independent constructs and unique effects on behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 91, 652-661.

Bar-Anan, Y., Liberman, N., Trope, Y. (2006). The association between psychological distance and construal level: Evidence from an implicit association test.

Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. 135 (4), 609-622.

Case, K. A., Hemmings, A. (2005). Distancing strategies: White women preservice teachers and antiracist curriculum. Urban Education. 40 (6) 606-626.

Corrigan, P. W., Green, A., Lundin, R., Kubiak, M. A., Penn, D. L. (2001). Familiaritywith and social distance from people who have serious mental illness. Psychiatric Services. 52 (7), 953-958.

Gordon, P. A., Tantillo, J. C., Feldman, D., Perrone, K. (2004). Attitudes regarding interpersonal relationships with persons with mental illness and mental retardation. Journal of Rehabilitation. 70 (1), 50-56.

References Hodson, G., Esses, V. M. (2002). Distancing oneself from negative attributes and the

personal/group discrimination discrepancy. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 38, 500-507.

Lauber, C., Nordt, C., Falcato, L., Rossler, W. (2004). Factors influencing social distance toward people with mental illness. Community Mental Health Journal. 40 (3), 265-274.

Swim, J. K., Ferguson, M. J., Hyers, L. L. (1999). Avoiding stigma by association: subtle prejudice against lesbians in the form of social distancing. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 21 (1), 61-68.

Triandis, H. C., Triandis, L., M. (1960). Race, social class, religion, and nationality as determinants of social distance. Journal of Abnormal

and Social Psychology. 61 (1), 110-118.

Yuchtman-Yaar, E., Inbar, M. (1986). Social distance in the Israeli- Arab conflict a resource-dependency analysis. Comparative Political Studies, 19 (3), 283-316.