Allport catalogued ego-defensive responses to victimization across multiple domains

Evidence

As with virtually every aspect of this classic treatise, Allport cast a broad and compelling net over the subject of how targets of discrimination and oppression may respond. In chapter 9 of The Nature of Prejudice, “Traits Due to Victimization,” Allport outlined a number of possible ways that victims of prejudice might respond and mechanisms they might engage. He mentioned a number of alternative responses, including a focus on the self (e.g., obsessive concern), avoidant reactions (e.g., denial of membership, withdrawal), conforming or compliant responses (e.g., clowning, self-hate), enhanced ingroup solidarity (e.g., strengthening ingroup ties, militancy), negative orientations toward the majority group (e.g., prejudice against the outgroup), and social action (e.g., enhanced status striving). What these mechanisms have in common is a trait-based characterization of “ego-defenses.” — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1035

Categorization

• DEFINE: Summarizes Allport’s taxonomy of ego-defenses: self-focus, avoidance, conformity, ingroup solidarity, outgroup prejudice, and social action.