Negative Attitudes: Cultural, Historical, & Social Psychological Analysis of Racism in South Africa

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This course provides a basic overview of the social psychological principles that describe and explain the development and functions of attitudes (beliefs-stereotypes, feelings-prejudice, and behavior-discrimination) and how these influence relationships on an individual and group basis. These social psychological principles will then be used to analyze the development of and institutionalization of racism within the cultural-historical context of South Africa - one that is defined by intergroup conflict between the English and Afrikaans cultural groups, the tribal conflicts among the African tribes, as well as the black-white apartheid conflict. This portion of the course contextualizes the psychological in the historical-cultural-economic context. Finally, the course culminates in reading and discussing the words and life of Nelson Mandela whose response to institutionalized racism that oppressed his people and resulted in his incarceration for 27 years was one of reconciliation. Questions dealing with appropriate responses to negative attitudes as well as programs or policies to change existing negative attitudes or prevent the development their future development will be discussed. This course will count as a 30000-level course for psychology majors or as a college social science requirement for students in the College of Arts and Letters.