In this episode of The Psychology Undergrad, we dive into one of the most powerful and complex topics in social psychology — prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination. Using real-world examples like the Ferguson divide, we unpack how bias forms, why it persists, and what the science says about reducing it.

We explore the cognitive roots of inequality through prospect theory, status quo bias, and social identity theory, showing how our minds are wired to defend the systems we live in — even when they’re unfair. You’ll also learn about the glass ceiling, tokenism, implicit bias, and the shifting standards model, which reveals how subtle discrimination can hide behind seemingly fair judgments.

Finally, we look at what actually works to reduce prejudice — from meaningful intergroup contact and re-categorization to collective guilt, cognitive retraining, and social influence.

🎓 Topics Covered:
• Status quo bias and zero-sum thinking
• Gender stereotypes and the glass ceiling
• Implicit bias and the bona fide pipeline
• Social identity, in-group favoritism, and minimal groups
• Contact hypothesis and reducing prejudice

This episode helps make sense of how bias operates in everyday life — and how we can start to challenge it.

#PsychologyUndergrad #SocialPsychology #Prejudice #Stereotypes #Discrimination #ImplicitBias #GroupDynamics #PsychologyPodcast #HumanBehavior