Exercise 1

We have completed Section 1.  Before we move on to the next section we are going to do a quick Exercise.  This will be an individual exercise; there is no need to turn it in at this time, but feel free to discuss with others if you choose.  When you have completed the exercise, place your answers in the back of your folder.  We will come back to them later.

Instructions

Consider the lists below.  On one side you will see a list of groups.  One the other side you will see a list of descriptions.  For each group, go through the list of descriptions and decide if that description applies to the group or not.  Make a note of descriptions that either STRONGLY APPLY or STRONGLY DO NOT APPLY for each group.  Those will be the associations that you will want to write down.

 

After you have written down all of the associations that apply, you will want to take that list and ask some questions about each one.

·         Is the association between the description and the group a factual, concrete one?

·         Would there be statistical evidence for the association between the group and the description?

·         Would the description apply to every individual member of the group?

·         Is this a valid association, or is this a perception?

 

Men	Lazy
Police	Good at Math
Women	Stupid
Americans	Sneaky
Country people	Illiterate
Blacks	Brave
Truckers	Cowards
Young people	Good with Money
Whites	Dishonest
City people	Heroes
Asians	Immoral
Politicians	Useless
Mexicans	Arrogant
Christians	Racist
Farmers	Hard Working
Old people	Caring
Russians	Efficient
Gays	Greedy
Muslims	Privileged
North Koreans	Thrifty
Doctors	Athletic
Jews	Beautiful
Atheists	Poor
Suburbanites	Ugly
Nurses	Trustworthy

   

 

 

 

 

 

As you look at the column on the left, what emotion do you feel as you read the name of each group?  Your emotion may not match your intellect here.  Make note of the emotion anyway.

 

Depending on your answers, it may be best to dispose of this exercise, rather than keeping it around where people may see it.  The choice is yours.