An instance of stereotyping, prejudice, and/or discrimination (SPD)

Full Answer Section

      Key Features of SPD:

• Stereotyping: The man assumed the woman wasn't originally from the US based solely on her race.
• Prejudice: The comment suggests a preconceived negative attitude towards Asian Americans and their ability to speak English fluently.
• Discrimination: The man's question singled out the woman based on her race, making her feel like an outsider.

Readings and their Arguments:

1. Microaggressions in Everyday Life by Sue et al. (2007): This article defines microaggressions as brief and commonplace verbal, behavioral, or environmental slights that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial messages to people of color. It highlights how these seemingly minor incidents can have a cumulative negative impact on mental health and well-being.
2. Model of Predisposition, Trigger, Behavior, and Consequence (PTBC) by Dovidio et al. (2001): This model explains the psychological process of prejudice and discrimination. Predisposition refers to pre-existing biases, triggers are cues in the environment that activate these biases, behaviors are the discriminatory actions, and consequences are the outcomes of those actions.

Applying Concepts to the Experience:

• Microaggressions Model (Sue et al., 2007): This model perfectly explains the situation. The man's racial bias (predisposition) was triggered by the woman's appearance (trigger), leading to the microaggression (behavior), which likely made her feel uncomfortable and stereotyped (consequence).
• PTBC Model (Dovidio et al., 2001): This model also applies. The man's prejudice towards Asian Americans (predisposition) was likely triggered by the woman's race (trigger), leading to the microaggression (behavior), potentially causing her to feel unwelcome (consequence).

Limitations of the Models:

• Neither model explicitly addresses the power dynamics inherent in discrimination. The microaggressions model focuses on the experience of the target, while the PTBC model is more general.
• These models don't fully explain how the bystander (myself) could have intervened or how the situation could be addressed for future interactions.

Conclusion: The experience highlights the prevalence of microaggressions and the importance of recognizing them. The provided readings offer valuable frameworks for understanding the underlying psychological processes of prejudice and discrimination. While these models provide a good foundation, they could be further enhanced by incorporating the power dynamics and potential bystander responses.  

Sample Answer

   

Personal Experience of Microaggression (Discrimination)

Instance of SPD:

I recently witnessed a microaggression at a coffee shop. A young Asian woman was ordering her drink when an older white man behind her commented, "Great English! Where are you really from?" This seemingly innocuous comment implies that because she appears Asian, perfect English is unexpected and her "real" origin lies elsewhere. This is an example of microaggression, a subtle form of discrimination based on race or ethnicity.