Internalized fairness values make group prejudice psychologically intolerable as hypocrisy

Evidence

In recognition of the very real possibility that prejudice may be viewed as unacceptable, Allport opened the “Inner Conflict” chapter, chapter 20, with the following observation: “The course of prejudice in a life seldom runs smoothly. For prejudiced attitudes are almost certain to collide with deep-seated values that are often equally or more central to the personality” (1954/1979, p. 326). The types of deep-seated values that create problems for prejudice are those of fairness, justice, and the humane treatment of others as prescribed by the American Creed and Judeo-Christian values – values that Allport claimed are integral in our socialization as Americans. To the extent that people subscribe to these values, possessing group-based prejudices would by definition collide with them and would reveal those with such prejudices to be hypocrites. Being exposed as a hypocrite is, according to Allport, discomforting to people. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 2081

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to cognitive dissonance theory in social psychology and to the reader’s prior work on how value systems constrain behavior. — connects to: Only people with internalized nonprejudiced standards feel guilt over their actual prejudiced responses — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2106; Group-protective self-interest biases fairness judgments and suppresses collective guilt among the highly identified — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 451
• DEFINE: Introduces Allport’s claim that prejudice collides with deep-seated fairness values central to personality.