Diversity and A Movie

*

*Some define it as:

*A wide range of interests, backgrounds,

experiences.

*Differences in racial and ethnic, socioeconomic,

geographic, and academic/professional

backgrounds.

*A mixture of cultures, ethnicities, racial

backgrounds, political views and ideals.

*

*All of these are correct!

*diversitynoun di·ver·si·ty \də-ˈvər-sə-tē, dī-\

* the quality or state of having many

different forms, types, ideas, etc.

*

*Stereotypes

*Racism

*Prejudice

*Subtle Bias

*Religion

*Culture

*Ethnicity

*Discrimination

*Minorities

*We will just hit on a few!

*

*What is a bias?

*A preference or an inclination, especially one thatinhibits impartial judgement.

*Example:

“Jane Gonzalez, who has a degree, will be joiningour staff.”

*Bias in all its forms is more readily seen as adeliberate choice than as an unintentionalpredisposition.

*

*What is a stereotype?

*A conventional, formulaic, and over simplifiedconcept, opinion or image.

* Typical words used with stereotyping include:

*Clannish

*Aggressive

*Blue-collar

*Lazy

*

*What are Prejudices?

*Unjustified or incorrect attitudes toward anindividual based solely on the individual’smembership of a social group

*What are Prejudices based on?

Sex

Race

Age

Sexual Orientation

Nationality

Socioeconomic Status

Religion

And more

*In a much-quoted passage of the book “The

Nature of Prejudice”, Allport wrote:

“The human mind must think in the aid of

categories….Once formed, categories are the basis

for normal prejudgement. We cannont possibly

avoid this process. Orderly living depends upon it.”

*

*We can attribute our past experiences and

memories to the biases, stereotypes and

prejudices we currently have.

*These come from:

*Fear

*Culture

*The way our brain operates

*

*We feel threatened from anyone that is different

from us.

*Creates a fear of not belonging

*We also fear those behaviors that stereotyped groups

have done in the past.

*Research indicates that human beings innately

perceive anyone different from them as a threat

because the brain has an evolutionary requirement to

do so.

*Silent Beats Video

*

*Much of what enters our consciousness comes

from the culture around us.

*It comes from:

*The way we were raised

*The movies or news we watch

*The music we listen to

*The people we are surrounded by

*

*We have 2 systems.

*System 1 – fast, intuitive and impressionistic

*System 2- slow, deliberate and systematic

*The amygdala is responsible for our “fight-or-

flight” response

*Also responsible for our Unconscious Bias

* The immediate defensive reaction we have to

anything that is not like ourselves.

*

*The same neural structures that trigger and

reinforce bias are closely tied to the ability to self-

regulate.

*Being exposed to more diverse environments can

often counteract the cognitive effects of bias.

*The “cognitive monster” of stereotyping is

malleable and may be countered if an individual

can link positive intentions to the relevant situation

or group in advance of an interaction.

*

*Through practice, people can weaken the

mental links that connect minorities to

negative stereotypes and strengthen the ones

that connect them to positive conscious beliefs

*A slight pause in the processing of a stereotype

gives conscious, unprejudiced beliefs a chance

to take over

*Given enough motivation, people may be able

to teach themselves to inhibit prejudice.

*

*Examples of:

* Stereotypes

* Prejudices

* Subtle Biases

* Relation to real world problems

*

*

*Predators

*Large

*Tough

*

*Useless other than farming

*Dumb

*Weak

*

*

*Definition:

*A preference or an inclination, especially onethat inhibits impartial judgement.

*Examples from the movie:

*“A tiny otter did that?”

*“Proud day for us little guys.”

*The yack assuming the bunny was selling cookies.

*Scout honor code - “Even though you are a fox?”

*

*Definition:

*A conventional, formulaic, and over simplifiedconcept, opinion or image.

*Examples from the movie:

*Assumed the sheep was innocent.

*“That poor little bunny is going to get eaten alive”

*The “big” have to protect the “small”

* Gazelle's backup dancers are Tigers.

* Sheep’s body guards are Rams.

* Mole’s security guards are Polar Bears.

*

*Definition:

*Unjustified or incorrect attitudes toward anindividual based solely on the individual’smembership of a social group

*Examples from the movie:

*“Bunny Cop, that’s the most stupidest thing”

*The elephant refuses to sell a popsicle to a foxbecause he is a fox.

*“or maybe any aggressive predator looks savage toyou”

*

*

*

* First:

*Answer the questions on the back of the Handout

by yourself.

*Then:

*Discuss each of your answers with the group.

*

*

* https://sph.unc.edu/files/2013/07/define_diversity.pdf

* http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diversity

* https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/bias

* http://www.simplypsychology.org/prejudice.html

* https://www.verywell.com/what-is-prejudice-2795476

* http://www.understandingprejudice.org/apa/english/pag

e3.htm

* http://www.kornferry.com/institute/understanding-bias-

and-brain

* https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/199805/wher

e-bias-begins-the-truth-about-stereotypes