Discrimination. Stereotyping of Facial Attractiveness - Research Paper Example

? Parts of discrimination are innate while others stereotyping is learned al affiliation Parts of discrimination are innate while others stereotyping is learned Abstract Researchers have attempted to determine whether the criteria used to judge attraction are entirely identical regardless of race. Other questions would posit the existence of a library of universal traits generally thought to be focal points of sexual selection that cross racial groups (Crocker & Major, 1989, p. 609).Some possible examples would include primary sexual characteristics. Men are on average broader of shoulder than women; there must be persistent value to this trait on a neurological level for it to become ingrained in the species as a whole. A female example would be increased hip dimensions relative to that of a male. While this trait is also necessary due to the need to pass an infant's head through the birth-canal; if this feature resulted in negative reactions from the opposite sex; natural selection could eventually devise an alternative. Introduction In purely racial terms, discrimination is a pattern that could indeed be overcome with sufficient social and political will. If the spectrums of influences that inform our perceptions both consciously and unconsciously prove to be egalitarian and considerate, the majority of the population will eventually minimize racist tendencies beyond the most unavoidable cultural traits. It is leaping to moral judgement based on race that is a concern to policy makers. For the purpose of pure aesthetics, there is less room for flexibility. Extremely unattractive individuals can be identified by the very young even before those children are able to form words to give voice to their unease. This implies ingrained biological instincts that are likely to be an immutable consequence of human neurobiology due to the needs of survival. There is likely a great incentive through natural selection to discourage association and later mating with presumably less-fit individuals. But defining the unattractive is a complex challenge: perfectly fit individuals of different races may be deemed unfit for procreation by those strongly attuned to their own race. This sensitivity is likely the reason that human ethnicity exists in the first place. Still, exceptions do occur; but here standards of beauty may differ. Studies indicate that different races can be seen as attractive by others, but the dimensions by which physical attraction are defined can differ between races. This of course, creates opportunities for future research. Further studies might involve new-born infant’s subjects to facial images of adults of different races; whom were judged highly attractive by other adults. In this manner, data would be gathered in regards to the racial component of attractiveness. Would new-borns display identical interest in highly attractive faces regardless of race? Such a study would be a valuable contribution to this field of investigation. Origin of discrimination To get at the root of the problem, it is necessary to explore where and how discrimination begins. Dion, (1973) describes the process is to demonstrate the origin of stereotyping, by identifying the point where by it first occurs in children. Ramsey posits the theory that the induction of stereotypic assumptions is unlikely to be directly taught. As we grow and learn, a combination of social interactions, observations, and reflection on the implications of interpersonal relations combined with opinions. This can lead to the formation of unconscious bias regarding people, or groups (Crocker & Major, 1989, p. 611). Some differences are racial; in that the socialization of different groups tends to produce similarities of expectation. But different racial groups have been shown to employ different criteria for the determination of physical attractiveness; but few would seriously claim any neurobiological compulsion for adult attractiveness selection criteria beyond acculturation (Crocker & Major, 1989, p. 609). Pessimistic anticipations The murder of Mark Duggan is perceived as the direct source of the riots. A policeman shot him in the chest during the interpellation of his minicab. There was a strong feeling of incomprehension on why the father of four was gunned down which suspected discrimination of the police by many. Furthermore, the police did not provide the family with a clear explanation on why this seeming no problem hard working young had been shot. The family and the public also felt that the police was “getting away” with killing an innocent young man; therefore, creating a real fear of insecurity in unprivileged communities. This has been viewed internationally as what set off the London riots. Possibly, the family was treated in such a manner by the police because they were ethnic minorities. Although family has previously never attempted rioting, discrimination was part of the handling they received from the police. Sociometric merits Jane Elliot's 'Blue-Eyed' experiment in bias and stereotyping was increasingly becoming interested in discovering aspects that might add up to stereotype change and discrimination. This shift in the experiment and characters’’ lives recently had the chance to carry out a plan assessment of a popular, controversial methodology for decreasing stereotyping and discrimination. The diversity of Jane Elliot's 'Blue-Eyed' experiment involved an educating exercise that also involved observation. Every character in the book “A long way Gone” has had a distorted manner of responding to discrimination and biasness in their surroundings. A number of symbols depict the results of the experiment. For instance, Mrs. Das had sunglasses where she concealed herself and blocking other people through the tint and eyes. Beah’s vivid remembrance had him recommend the catastrophic narrative with dependable correctness and clearly recounts sceneries of fierceness, deaths, and torment (Crocker & Major, 1989, p. 619). Friendship preference Prior to early eighties, neoclassical and political economists have discovered that women and African-Americans have endured dissimilar labor market situations in comparison with whites and males. Normally, women and black protesters have called for the equalization of gender and ethnic origins amongst applicants in all organizations. This situation forms primary cause for the immense poverty rates amongst Dominican and Mexican females between 1980 and 2000. Discrimination by employers and government officials fostered lack of income amongst Latinos in the United States, causing the high rates of Male poverty rates amongst Mexicans and Dominicans. Opportunities and optimism have been vastly reduced amongst humanitarians and equal rights activists because of the figures presented in this chapter. Such a perspective creates enormous disappointment in the entire population. Such figures force people to change their view towards inequality and blame corporate employers for making discriminative and unequal employment decisions. Whilst groups will by no means become equal, it is disturbing that the current losers are the same groupings that lost in the past years (Crocker & Major, 1989, p. 614). Racism and gender discrimination practices have run though American history and vanished from the face of government agencies and private institutions. Racial elements The current society is characterized by migration as a frequently caused tradition as a result of a number of undesirable conditions. These conditions include famine, drought, natural calamities, economic depressions civil wars and many other conditions and violations cause migration. These conditions are also responsible for adding additional claims on population’s dealing with abilities and making them more helpless to mal-adaptation. The degree at which the migration causes adaptation issues for persons relies on the figure of aspects like migration objectives, the existing socio-demographic, mental and political circumstances in the community settlement. These same factors are liable for the differences in the mental or behavioral platforms amongst the different levels of the generations of the population (Crocker & Major, 1989, p. 613). Under normal conditions, some individuals in these populations might be more susceptible to risks engaged in migration more than others. These variations are going to be discussed in the following paper. Immigrants fall under the first, second and third generations, with the ancestors forming the first age group, and children forming the third generation. The “double jeopardy” factor and condition is one cause of variation in the third generation. According to Sam and Berry, the third generation encounters the added threats since interaction between their psych-social condition and sex, women to be specific, along with their age and developmental level, hold susceptibility issues in times of migration (Crocker & Major, 1989, p. 615). From location and financial viewpoints, Sam and Berry also claim that the future of majority of existing communities is in the hands of the children. The interests of these kids, the third generation, have to be considered very crucial upshots of the community. Majority of communities in the western hemisphere have immigrant children’s population being part of the fast growing size of the national population. In relation with the second generation, a matching difference is observed in a variation in the population of their immigrant indigenous parents. Apart from the psychological variations of the first and second generation immigrants are behavioral differences. Sam and Berry debate on the transition from childhood to teenagers among immigrants (Crocker & Major, 1989, p. 615). Developing identities is a common trait amongst teenagers and immigrant adolescents are bound to follow a similar trend under their own groups to different extents of members from the wider community. This is different from second and first generations as the extent at which these teenagers develop a taste for either racial or countrywide group. A mutual bicultural identity for the first generation has had repercussions for their mental adjustments, as well as behavioral changes. Another behavioral difference discussed by Sam and Berry’s book is the stress if interdependence of the ethical principles amongst the family of the immigrants. With an increase in age together with a new environment, a joint support amid the immigrants families have countered countervailing demands for the better independence. Peers from other groups formed by the first generation offered models of substitute means of interacting with parents and other people. An adaptation outcome among the immigrants of all generations is emphasized by Sam and Berry when discussing the progressive trails taken. These pathways determine the psychological and behavioral patterns of the immigrants. Third generation immigrants have chosen definite decisions and influences that have led to a non-surprising research findings which have turned out contradictory and unreliable. This is because of the review points of the adjustment to new environments and covering of susceptibilities by the first and second generation immigrants. Mal-adaptation has been proven to be poor among children in the first generation, but the studies saw no major differences between first and second generation immigrant adolescents. The third and contemporary generation adolescents have been found in emotional comfort and less anguish (Crocker & Major, 1989, p. 615). Cultural Values and Social Construction Different races have conducted different studies with the aim of establishing a favorable background within a map that fully identifies the academy of cultural studies. The source of typecasts towards the existence of ingroups, as stated by some researchers, is what holds the values that differentiate the various ingroups. Therefore, the discernment of any of the aspects of value must be founded on the basis of the environment a tradition holds its limelight. The cause for a community to seem different in a particular way in comparison with another community is due to the morals differences that eventually lead to the difference in communal behaviors. According to Goren, Sarty, M, Paul, Wu, (1975), these difference variations serve as proof for the means by which cultural geography researchers are supposed to strategize the sub-discipline. Geography scholars were used in his studies to illustrate his theories with the use of all senses to experience fieldwork and generate understanding in cultural construction. Other researchers have been in line with the theory stated claiming that if a community was simply held exclusively in a republic, the owners of the tradition would feel superior, leading to a position of injustice. An example offered by Appiah is the Asante community of Ghana where the culture holds a different culture principle and morals system than the other communities surrounding them. Class and race are an extra consideration in support of the thesis stated. These two aspects work to offer some an undeserved benefit above other societies based on race, citizenship, academic status and personal history. Cultural differences of the fortunate races are revealed broadly in the various researches carried out; offering them credit while the inferior aces are offered limited reputation. The sources that generate understanding in cultural topography are widely available and unexploited in other races and cultural groups. Rational reasoning and auditing of publications on social construction should be present when arguing racial discrimination Literature review The racial situation created in the train station working place is a common trend in the entire labor market. In this situation, the trainmaster can enforce the most excellent prevention strategy would be singlehandedly dealing with the discriminative employees. To prevent Francisco from taking the issue forward to EEOC, the EPA (employee assistance program) should be a firsthand platform for informing the other employees the dangers they expose their careers to when being discriminative on another employee (Goren, Sarty, Paul & Wu, 1975, p. 156). To be specific, the trainmaster is supposed remind the other employees of their statues. The approach is good, private and racially available to majority of the employees in the train station since apart from the single white lady, all other employees in the trains are minorities. The trainmaster can also hold brief ethnic sessions. During these sessions, the trainmaster can impose strict law enforcements and practical prevention policies to see that racial prejudice is halted in the workplace. This policy should serve as one of the factors that will prevent Francisco from taking the case to the United States equal employment opportunity commission. The consequences imposed from such a commission can negatively affect the careers of all employees within the specified workplace. The trainmaster should support the notion by mentioning that discrimination against another individual due to their ancestry is the breaching of Title VII’s prevention against discrimination. The nick-names and words that are referred to Francisco by other employees to are deliberate prejudice behaviors. Collateral duty therefore applied to this case and the workers are in response to their actions supposed to endure supplemental training to straighten their workplace behaviors. This way, Francisco will definitely reconsider his decision of informing EEOC. Moral and ethical principles play a big role in ensuring effective communication and medical care as an EMT. An EMT would create simplicity on the principle of health experience when taking care of patients. Such an approach will make me set the main concerns for the entire health institute and also achieve its set objectives at the same time. A health care institute describe perfect healthcare as a combination of first-class care that is essentially safe, alongside great service. I would work for the organization on a daily basis, offering immediate healthcare for any patient in need of urgent medical care regardless of the race, age or gender. Such a state of mind will assist in elimination of any kind of discrimination. Safety and quality treatment mainly relies on my activities on the patient before they arrive at the emergency department. Therefore, successful communication with the patient has to be achieved. Interaction between an EMT and the patient will assist in determining the cause and solution procedures for offering the correct diagnosis. Should the patient not be in a state of articulating any kind of communication, a relative or individual who was close to the patient will be required in answering some questions regarding the condition of the patient. Maintain a steady and smooth interaction with the patient and assisting paramedics will maintain a smooth background for offering the appropriate medical treatment. I would thoroughly try and work on such a platform every day. For me to ensure a perfect healthcare experience for the patients before and while in the emergency department, I will deliver a direct and indirect approach towards the patient, family, guest and the delivery staff as well. The community looks forward to efficient healthcare to all people enhancing a culture of safety, indiscrimination, ethics and quality agenda. However, the experiments which posit this agent as being the origin point of stereotypical/discriminatory behaviour have been subjected to critical scrutiny. There is some concern in regards to peer group bias, either for or against. Additional studies are still useful in terms of spatial qualities pertaining to a rating of high attractiveness. Older experiments in this regard have utilized full body photographs, how much, and what influence does the face of an individual influence a pre-existing prejudice? Could an otherwise attractive face be rated lower depending upon a negative condition for the body? Here there is a potential for an interplay relating to the psychological functioning of prejudice that is worthy of elucidation. Research by Dion does reinforce susceptibility among children for prejudicial notions. There it is concluded that among preschoolers at least, children deemed to be less attractive are judged as being "scarier" when compared to more appealing children of either sex based on the judgments of classmate peers. (Dion, 1973) It is the task of the researchers to identify to what extent an innate reaction maybe responsible for this estimation. Among the very young potential exists for more clarity involving the origin of a hypothetical ingrained prejudice. While young children should most certainly prove more susceptible to outside influences, they will also possess less guile, less ability to moderate their impulses and first impressions. Thus their reactions and prejudices are more likely to reveal the existence of neurobiological influences than adults who may attempt to mask their true feelings. More specifically, analysis performed in recent years has produced findings indicating that attractiveness stereotypes are in evidence as early as 3 years of age (Goren, Sarty, Paul & Wu, 1975, p. 156). In general, attractiveness is described among the literature of social psychologists using terms such as the ‘beauty is good’ stereotype. This preference does not end after childhood. Moving back earlier, there is evidence according to Goren, Sarty, Paul and Wu, (1975) that these beauty stereotypes can in fact appear in children within one year after birth. There have been experiments that indicated infants no older than 12 months in age showed a preference for the proximity of attractive female strangers as opposed to unattractive ones. Even Dolls were subject to beauty standards in terms of playtime choice (Goren, Sarty, Paul & Wu, 1975, p. 156). These findings are not entirely surprising due to early studies in infant awareness of environmental stimuli. Infants’ just minutes after birth are capable of reacting to, and responding towards human faces even in the absence of any prior visual frame of reference(Goren, Sarty, Paul & Wu, 1975, p. 156). Goren and colleagues also found that infants as little as 9 minutes old demonstrated active interest in moving human faces more so than blank patterns or scrambled shapes. Though it is generally accepted that new-borns do not remember or comprehend what they see at this stage; the brain and eyes work as a sensory system, but not as a perceptual system. At the minimum, a level of rudimentary expectations must be encoded innately in each of us from our earliest moments. Given that the infants in this study were far too young to be influenced, this emphasizes the innate sensitivity ingrained from birth. The main points discussed by the writer is the American community is supposed to consider the experience that the black community has from the rest of the society. Analyzing the black behavior would provide a head start towards solving the discrimination issue that faces the black community in the United States. Under strict empirical studies, tutors can comprehend the actual feelings and expressions that bring about the black behavior. Another point stressed is the historical account that takes the main lead in the hypothetical formulations. Hypothetical formulations form one of the best ways of leveling the black conditions with the rest of the society and investigators can best understand their behavior through methodical accounts into their history. The literature presented from the hypothetical strips discloses several societal science practitioners who chose to use an assorted model with an attached description of their occupations. This way, they were able to compare the livelihoods of the black community and hence look into the causes of their behavior. The literature looked into the theory that explains this phenomenon concedes that the legitimate causes for black elite individuals to be suspicious of actions control strategies. The domination of the white people in America has been supported by the African’s transplantation to America. The history of this migration has changed the actions of the black people in the annals of the past. The author has provided proof depicting the changing method that was so professionally modified until now, the current black community is not certain about the value orientation. See has offered a profound reason behind this observation. The anaesthetized level of the reception of discrimination towards the black community is in accordance with their own reality. The author has provided another belief that is equally common within institutional ethnic prejudice (Goren, Sarty, Paul & Wu, 1975, p. 156). Families face countless problems every day. These problems range from finances to health to teenage issues. At times it becomes too much, and the people involved are faced with depression and other health related difficulties. Contextual family therapy has been in place mainly to cater for some of those challenges. Many families would wish to remain intact and strong hence; in a number of instances, families seek external help so that understanding among family members could be achieved. Contextual family therapy advocates for existence of understanding in this important institution in addition to ensuring equality thereby creating harmony. The aspect of contextual therapy is different due to the fact that this kind of therapy focuses on emotional analysis and remedial care in the family set up rather than the normal therapy that is public with minimal privacy. Moreover, the patients or rather people included tend to be more open in this therapy. Contextual family therapy has assisted families to have good relationships. The work of the therapist is to ensure the differences that exist in the family are tackled completely. Once a family member has visited the therapist and presented the problem, the therapist analyses the situation and request to meet with the parties involved. The therapist takes them through several sessions characterized with discussion of the problem in detail and attempting to reach amicable solution. However, the problem may be too huge and may involve friends. This means that the assistance offered should come from close people as they are the ones that know a person best. All this is done so that a mutual agreement between the conflicting members is reached. The most sought therapy involves conflicts between parents and their children. An integrated model is used to ensure achievement of common understanding. The integrated model has various sections: a general model, a specific model that involves certain strategies, techniques that deal with external problems facing the young children and a parallel set of approaches, and techniques for tackling internal problems at all ages. The general model involves a number of assumptions, values and rule. Historical background is another major aspect when it comes to therapy. The therapist must know the age of the child and the historical background. This allows the therapist to know how the child was raised and how to assist each child with regard to age. The historical background is thus crucial in therapy since it brings out diverse challenges. For instance, eating disorder, obsessive disorder and drug abuse disorder. In addition, experiences like trauma, stress, among others are responsible for the growth of a person’s inner self. History also shows parents their mode of parenting and its effects on their children. The measures the parents need to take to avoid history from repeating itself after therapy also discussed (Goren, Sarty, Paul & Wu, 1975, p. 156). In all therapy sessions, the patient is the most important figure than the theory presented. The therapist concentrates on what the patients wants, feels and how appropriate assistance is given to the patient for the therapy sessions to be successful. Integrated therapy also puts in consideration the physical health of the patient, in that the therapist is required to advice the patient to live a healthy life to avoid depression and other stress related problems. Problems are also a major concern during therapy. The therapist ought to decipher whether the child development in terms of education has been affected in any way. At times, the child experience recognition problem because of their family background and sometimes fear develops in their interactions and socialization with other people. Identifying individual differences is also an important assumption when it comes to therapy. The level of intelligence varies from one person to another. Interactions and social factors among other reasons, also determines outcome of family therapy. Therapist need to analyze a person first before they start the therapy sessions. Understanding various individual factors assist in ensuring each individual get necessary help separately and an understanding attained after these sessions. Further, for therapy sessions to be successful the therapist need to use the above assumptions in addition, to understanding cognitive, behavioral and emotional issues facing the people concerned. This especially applies when dealing with young children and adolescent children who have problems with their parents. Moreover, the therapist is required to be gentle to understand the issues that the patient goes through effectively in a way parties involved in therapy sessions feel free and satisfied to pour out their problems to the therapist. The therapist is not required to take sides; instead, he is required to be a neutral part in the therapy sessions so that everyone can feel satisfied and comfortable with the therapy sessions. Contextual family therapy views justice as a key aspect to do with listening to each other in therapy sessions and coming up with an agreement that is compatible with both parties. Other therapy styles define justice as a need or want and that it may take a while before a family member feels the need is filled not only through a number of therapy sessions (Goren, Sarty, Paul & Wu, 1975, p. 156). In addition, contextual family therapy overlooks at certain problems and therefore does not define how the problems can be resolved. Therefore, contextual family therapy may not be very reliable in solving family issues. The problems may be relayed in a very large scope ranging from depression due to perceived neglect of family members to general loneliness. References Anderson, R & William, T. (1998). Forgiveness as an intervention in contextual family therapy: Two case examples Journal of Professional Counseling, Practice, Theory, & Research; Fall; 26, 2; Caria, A., de Falco, S., Venuti, P., Lee, S., Esposito, G., Rigo, P., Birbaumer, N., Bornstein, M.H. (2012). Species-specific response to human infant faces in the premotor cortex. NeuroImage; 60 (2): 884 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.12.068 http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/ Crocker, J, Major, B. (1989). Social stigma and self-esteem: The self-protective properties of stigma. Psychological Review, 96, 608–630. Dion, K.K. (1973). Young Children's Stereotyping of Facial Attractiveness. Developmental Psychology., Vol. 9, No. 2, 183-188. Farimond, Stuart. (2011). “The Science of Rioting – Is there a reason for the Violence? Is there a Solution?”Crowd psychology. :http://realdoctorstu.com/2011/08/09/the- science-of- rioting-is-there-a-reason-for-the-violence-is-there-a-solution/ (Accesses October 8th, 2011) Goren, G.C, Sarty, M, Paul, Y.K, Wu, M.B. (1975). Visual following and pattern discrimination of face-like stimuli by newborn infants. Pediatrics vol. 56 No. 4. Langlois, J.H, Ritter, J.M, Roggman, L.A, & Vaughn, L.S. (1991). Facial diversity and infant preferences for attractive faces. Developmental Psychology, 27, 79–84 Read More