COUN 220: Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Prejudice and Discrimination

• Define and apply psychological concepts and research methods\\nemployed to study the biological and socio-cultural construction of\\nrace and ethnicity.
• Analyze and articulate concepts such as race and racism,\\nracialization, ethnicity, equity, ethno-centrism, eurocentrism, white\\nsupremacy, self-determination, liberation, decolonization,\\nsovereignty, imperialism, settler colonialism, and anti-racism as\\nanalyzed in any one or more of the following: Native American\\nStudies, African American Studies, Asian American Studies, and\\nLatina and Latino American Studies.
• Apply theory and knowledge produced by Native American, African\\nAmerican, Asian American, and/or Latina and Latino American\\ncommunities to describe the critical events, histories, cultures,\\nintellectual traditions, contributions, lived-experiences and social\\nstruggles of those groups with a particular emphasis on agency\\nand group-affirmation.
• Evaluate how race and ethnicity are influenced by other dimensions\\nof stratification, such as gender and class. 
• Examine the experiences of historically marginalized groups due to\\ntheir race and the ethnicity, particularly Native American, African\\nAmerican, Latina/o, and Asian American populations.
• Assess theoretical and evidence-based approaches for reducing discrimination and promoting equity across diverse cultural and global contexts.
• Compare and contrast methods and techniques to reduce\\nprejudice and discrimination.
• Interpret empirical research and cross-cultural studies to understand the psychological and societal consequences of prejudice and inequality.
• Evaluate how cognitive, social, motivational, and cultural factors shape bias, stereotypes, and intergroup behavior in individuals and institutions.
• Explain major social-scientific theories that analyze the origins, persistence, and reduction of prejudice, discrimination, and intergroup conflict.

1. Foundations of the Social-Scientific Study of Prejudice, Discrimination, and Intergroup Relations

1. Definitions and distinctions among prejudice, discrimination, and bias

2. Overview of social and behavioral science approaches to studying inequality

3. The importance of theory and research in understanding intergroup behavior

2. Major theoretical frameworks: Social Identity Theory, Social Learning Theory, Attribution Theory, System Justification Theory, and Intersectionality

1. Key concepts and assumptions of each theory

2. Application of theoretical models to intergroup relations and power structures

3. Comparative strengths and limitations of different frameworks  

3. Social Categorization and Stereotypes 

1. Social categorization and its consequences 
2. Origins and transmission of stereotypes
3. Social construction of race - Angela Willig's "Race and Racial Identity are Social Constructs

4. Dynamics of Hierarchy and Oppression  

1. Perceived value differences (e.g., religious fundamentalism, political orientation)
2. Authoritarianism 
3.  Social dominance orientation 
4. Emotions and stereotyping 
5. Intergroup anxiety 
6. Empathy  

5. Gender-based Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination 

1. Hostile and benevolent sexism
2. Sexual harassment 
3. Toxic masculinity 

6. Cognitive Processes and The Formation and Maintenance of Stereotypes

1. Role of perception, categorization, and schema in shaping bias

2. Automaticity, implicit bias, and stereotype activation

3. Research on stereotype persistence and change  

7. Reducing Individual and Institutional Prejudice and Discrimination 

1. Stereotype suppression
2. Conditions necessary for successful intergroup conflict 
3. Educational and workplace Intervention 
4. Embracing diversity

8. Socialization and The Development of Prejudice Across the Lifespan 

1. Early learning, modeling, and family influences on bias formation

2. Media and education as transmitters of cultural stereotypes

3. Developmental studies of prejudice in childhood and adolescence 

9. Motivational, Personality, and Emotional Factors Influencing Bias and Group Behavior

1. Social dominance orientation, authoritarianism, and need for closure

2. Emotional drivers such as fear, threat, and empathy

3. The psychology of in-group favoritism and out-group hostility

10. Cultural Norms, Values, and Communication Patterns Shaping Intergroup Dynamics

1. Individualism vs. collectivism and their effects on social perception

2. The influence of language, symbolism, and cultural scripts on bias

3. Intercultural communication and misinterpretation in diverse societies  

11. Institutional and Structural Dimensions of Discrimination in Education, Work, Media, and Policy  

1. Structural inequality in schools, workplaces, and justice systems

2. Media representation and its role in maintaining stereotypes

3. Intersection of class, gender, ability, and institutional power 

12. Psychological and Societal Consequences of Prejudice and Inequality

1. Effects of discrimination on identity, self-esteem, and mental health

2. Stereotype threat, marginalization, and internalized oppression

3. Collective and social impacts of systemic bias

13. Empirical Research Methods and Cross-Cultural Approaches to Studying Prejudice and Discrimination

1. Quantitative and qualitative designs used in social research

2. Cross-cultural sampling, measurement, and interpretation challenges

3. Ethical issues in researching marginalized or vulnerable groups 

14. Global Perspectives on Equity, Inclusion, and Social Change

1. International human rights frameworks addressing discrimination

2. Global case studies of reconciliation, truth commissions, and policy reform

3. Emerging models of multicultural citizenship and intercultural dialogue