Intergroup sensitivity effect
People find it more acceptable for someone to criticise a group if they belong to that group
People may perceive ingroup critics as having the best interests of the group at heart
Group members are more well-informed to make legitimate criticism
Ingroup sensitivity diminishes if ingroup critics are not attached or invested, new, have less experience, or no longer part of group
David and Goliath principle
The tendency for people to find it less acceptable to criticise lower status groups
Benign Violations Theory
Jokes must represent a violation to be considered funny
Jokes must also be perceived as benign/harmless to be funny
Whether people find joke funny links back to intergroup sensitivity effect and David and goliath principle
Intergroup Anxiety
People commonly experience anxiety about interacting with outgroup members
Anxiety arises from concerns that outgroup members will reject, exclude, ridicule or judge
Pluralistic Ignorance
Groups want to have contact but fear they will be rejected
So instead avoid outgroup to avoid rejection
Creates avoidance cycle
Racial preferences (dating)
Carry heavy communicative meaning
Potential partners who infer racism and are less attracted to those with racial preferences
Stating racial preferences in dating profiles is not good dating strategy
Differing concerns
Majority group members concerned with being liked
Minority group members more concerned with being respected
Preferences and prejudice (dating)
In attraction racism can be communicated through:
Overt rejection of members of racial outgroups
Fetishisation of members of racial outgroups
sexual racism impact
Seems to harm everyone – the preference holder and the targeted racial outgroups
People in interfaith, ethnic and cultural relationships have a XX risk of divorce and relationship dissolution
higher
4 core strategies for successful interracial relationships
- racial awareness
- coping
- identity emergence
- maintenance
racial awareness
At early stages people grapple with race
They face questions about the legitimacy of the relationships, and accusations of racial fetishism
Minority partners communicate their experiences or racism and how they deal with it
Majority members would recognise and communicate their privilege
coping
Interracial couple draw closer together to work out how to respond
Developing strategies, negotiating, turn to each other for perspective and support
identity emergence
Couples communicate to form a new identity
Highlight positives of being in interracial relationship
maintenance
Couples have developed effective strategies and adapted, share views
Parental support (interracial relationships)
Children report parents worry that interracial dating will end cultural practices
1st or 2nd generation participants more likely to report interracial dating conflict with parents than 3rd generation participants
Racism indigenous Aus
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples face persistent, severe prejudice in Australia.
20% showed old-fashioned racism (explicitly negative attitudes).
60% showed modern racism (subtle prejudice about land rights, “unfair” advantages).
Health impacts of racism (indigenous aus)
Racism linked to poorer mental health (stress, anxiety, depression).
Worse physical health (e.g. high blood pressure, low birth weight).
More negative health behaviours (alcohol, smoking, drugs).
Cultural context in healthcare (indigenous aus)
Studied 20 Indigenous ex-smokers.
75% used smoking to cope with stress, grief, racism.
Anti-smoking messages often seen as colonial control.
Respectful, trusting relationships with healthcare workers improved engagement.
Cultural safety and autonomy are key to effective care.
Age and communication
Communication styles differ across age groups (children, peers, older adults).
Age is automatically categorized alongside race and gender.
Ageism (negative attitudes or discrimination toward older adults) is widespread yet often socially accepted (e.g., birthday jokes).
historical roots of ageism
In pre-industrial societies, elders were respected as wise teachers and custodians of culture.
Printing press reduced reliance on elders for preserving knowledge.
Industrial revolution devalued older adults:
- Families became more mobile.
- Physical labor favored younger workers.
- Life expectancy rose, creating a larger older population seen as a “burden.”
Result: Older adults marginalized, stripped of power, and treated as second-class citizens.
psychological basis of ageism
People fear ageing, frailty, and death.
To cope, they distance themselves from older adults (e.g., jokes, stereotypes).
Social isolation of older adults predicts loneliness, poor health, and even mortality.
Forms of ageism
- patronising language
- pseudopositivity
- in helping professions
- elder abuse
patronising language
Overaccommodation (speaking loudly, slowly, or using baby talk).
Seen as humiliating and disrespectful.
