Psychology

    Psychology refers to the scientific study of human mental processes, motivations, and behavior (Heffernan, 2005, p.1). The discipline thereby focuses on applying the scientific method in its explanations of how mental states and intentions affect human behavior. Due to the diversity of the different phenomena that characterizes and influences human behavior, the discipline of psychology may be further divided into sub-disciplines. One of these sub-disciplines is social psychology. Social psychology deals with issues pertaining to personal identity, interpersonal relationships, aggression, and discrimination to name a few. A formal definition of the sub-discipline refers to it as the study of the interrelations amongst individuals, their interactions and the societies they live in (Fraser, Burchell  Hay, 2001, p.2). Since a study of social relationships and interactions requires knowledge of the individual, the field also considers the social nature of the individual (Fraser et. al., 2001, p.3). Such is the case since a persons cognitive abilities is also an important factor in determining how a persons social behavior is affected by cultural and social practices (Fraser et. al, 2001, p.3). Social psychology may thereby be conceived as the study of human mental processes, motivations, and behaviors as they are contextualized within the social sphere. An example of the concepts and issues that social psychology deals with is evident in Jane Elliotts (1996) documentary, Blue-Eyed.

    Elliotts documentary presents an application of her Blue Eyes, Brown Eyes exercise. The exercise aims to provide individuals with an experience of the effects of social discrimination, specifically the effects of racism, by utilizing an individuals eye color as the basis for his treatment in the experiment group. Eye color is used as the main determinant for the type of treatment that an individual will receive within the experiment since the same biological mechanisms that determine skin color affect an individuals eye color (Elliott, 1996). In order to strengthen her comparison between skin color and eye color as the basis for social discrimination, Elliott formulates a context wherein blue-eyed individuals are considered to be inferior to brown-eyed individuals. She states, 

(A)s peoples hair and skin got lighter, it didnt have a bad effect on their brains, but as their eyes got lighter, it allowed more and more light to enter their eyes, pierce their brains and damage their brains. And thats why people blue eyed people arent as smart as brown eyed people... Its ridiculous, isnt it People, it is no more ridiculous to make that statement about eye color than it is to make the statements that we traditionally have made about the skin color. If it makes good sense to judge people by the amount of melanin in their skin, then it makes equally good sense, more good sense, to judge them by the amount of melanin in their eyes. (Elliott, 1996)

     Elliott (1996) argues that first-hand experience of discrimination will enable the reduction of stereotypes and acts of prejudice in society. Such is the case since by sensitizing individuals to the behavioral and emotional effects of racial discrimination they are forced to realize the negative effects of stereotypes and acts of prejudice towards African-Americans. Elliots inoculation procedure for the reduction of racial stereotypes and acts of prejudice manifest her utilization of different concepts and methods in social psychology. This is evident if one focuses on Elliotts approach for the eradication of racial discrimination in her experiment.

    Racial discrimination refers to the practices of discrimination based on an individuals membership in a race or ethnic group (Blank, Dabady, Citro, 2004). This commonsensical definition of racial discrimination takes into account social psychologys conception of discrimination as a manifestation of overt behavior towards a group and its members (Fraser et. al., 2001, p.294).   Discrimination may take two forms (1) favorable behavior towards one group and (2) unfavorable behavior towards another group (Fraser et. al., 2001). The initial form of discrimination mentioned above may be understood as a form of discrimination based on prejudice whereas the later form of discrimination mentioned above may be understood as a form of discrimination based on same-group membership (Fraser et. al., 2001).The distinction between the two main forms of discrimination thereby take into account positive instances of discrimination and negative instances of discrimination. It is the later form of discrimination, which refers to prejudice, that is being emphasized in Elliotts Blue-Eyed. 

     Instances of racial discrimination are considered to be manifestation of prejudice. This is apparent as a formal definition of racial discrimination refers to it as a differential treatment on the basis of race that disadvantages a racial group and treatment on the basis of inadequately justified factors other than race that disadvantages a racial group (Blank, Dabady, Citro, 2004, p.39). In Blue-Eyed, Elliott introduces aspects of discrimination based on prejudice as she explicitly instructs the brown-eyed individuals in the experiment to treat blue-eyed individuals in a derogatory manner. She states, All we are going to do is spend about two and a half hours treating these people negatively on the basis of a physical characteristic over which they have no control (Elliott, 1996). Elliotts inoculation procedure thereby involves the recreation of intergroup relations that mirror the cognitive and behavioral aspects involved in cases of racial discrimination. It is important to note that there are different theories that account for the occurrence of discrimination in intergroup relations. These theories range from the psychodynamic theories, the cognitive theories, the acquisition theories and the intergroup theories (Fraser at. al., 2001). Elliots experiment utilizes certain aspects of the acquisition theories since she posits that the acquisition of social beliefs enables the continuance of practices of racial discrimination in society.

    Acquisition theories on intergroup relations argue that the acquisition of prejudices involves the inculcation of these prejudices during the initial period of a childs cognitive development (Fraser et. al, 2001). Such a conception of the proliferation and maintenance of negative discriminatory practices is provided by the social reflection theories (Fraser et. al, 2001). The problem with this view however is evident as it fails to provide the initial source of discriminatory practices. In order to remedy this problem, Abourd (1988, as cited in Fraser et. al., 2001) conceived of the social-cognitive developmental theory, according to which the exact contents of particular prejudices and the choices of targets for prejudice on the part of a group will be conveyed to the child through the socialization processes (p.303). This theory thereby accounts for the processes involved in the cognitive and behavioral aspects of a childs construction of his self which mirrors the beliefs and practices that he perceives to be prevalent in society. A child, in this sense, adheres to practices of racial discrimination as he conceives it as a type of favorable behavior for the members of his racial group. 

    In Elliotts experiment, the utilization of the social-cognitive development theory is apparent as she argues that by sensitizing individuals to the behavioral and emotional effects of racism, it is possible for individuals to recognize that their adherence to practices of racial discrimination is a result of their inability to question their acquired beliefs regarding racial discrimination and their desire to gain a favorable conception of their behavior within their racial group. Evidence of this can be seen as the male participants of her experiment implicitly agree that they adhere to practices of racism since other individuals adhere to such practices (Elliott, 2001).

    In line with this, the aforementioned discussion provided definitions and illustrations of the different concepts in social psychology, these being (1) discrimination, (2) racial discrimination, (3) prejudice, (4) acquisition theories, and (5) social-cognitive development theory. These concepts provided explanations for some of the aspects discussed in Elliotts Blue-Eyed documentary. It was able to show that cases of discrimination, specifically racial discrimination is a result of prejudice which is perceived by the acquisition theories of intergroup relations, specifically the social-cognitive development theory, as a result of an individuals acquisition of beliefs that reinforce the maintenance of practices of racism in society.