Paternalistic prejudice rewards warmth but exacts a competence cost

Evidence

Likewise, the mixed components of paternalism are psychologically consistent. Members of subordinated groups are often rewarded for showing the low competence and high warmth that make them nonthreatening. (Think of sexist admonitions to women not to appear too smart or ageist admonitions to older people not to work too hard.) Positive stereotypes of low-status groups’ warmth may come at the cost of these groups’ being perceived as incompetent and safely subordinated (i.e., as posing no competitive threat). Again, the subjectively positive aspects of these stereotypes and prejudices are perfectly consistent with the negative aspects. Whereas envious prejudices evoke feelings of threat, defensiveness, and resentment, paternalistic prejudices elicit patronizing forms of affection and pity. — Susan T. Fiske et al., A Model of (Often Mixed) Stereotype…, 303

Categorization

• SEED: The structural symmetry between paternalistic and envious prejudice — both internally consistent — could anchor an essay on how group-targeted affect is always a package deal, love-and-contempt or respect-and-fear.
• XREF: connects to: Paternalistic low-competence, high-warmth stereotypes predate modern egalitarian norms — Susan T. Fiske et al., A Model of (Often Mixed) Stereotype…, 34; Paternalized low-competence groups cluster high on warmth. — Susan T. Fiske et al., A Model of (Often Mixed) Stereotype…, 190; Paternalistic prejudice combines assumed superiority with caretaking toward warm but incompetent groups. — Susan T. Fiske et al., A Model of (Often Mixed) Stereotype…, 257 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Prejudice takes benevolent paternalistic forms that disadvantage groups without antipathy #expands (0.88) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 139
• Perceived competence in envied outgroups fuels resentment-driven prejudice rather than reducing it. #complicates (0.74) — Susan T. Fiske et al., A Model of (Often Mixed) Stereotype…, 302