<p>Intergroup relations are characterised by favourable and unfavourable biases. Towards one’s own group these biases are mostly favourable – ingroup favouritism. Research has, however, shown that outgroup favouritism, that is, the preference for a group to which the person does not belong, also permeates intergroup relations. Several theories such as social identity theory, social dominance theory, and system justification theory offer explanations of the dynamics of intergroup relations and biases. Despite not strictly being a theory of intergroup relations, right-wing authoritarianism also offers an explanation of intergroup bias by accounting for prejudice and ethnocentrism. Likewise, ideological conservatism has been shown to influence intergroup relations. </p><p>Based within these theories, this dissertation attempts to explain the social-psychological mechanisms regulating in- and outgroup favouritism. More specifically, Study I examines issues of power and legitimacy in relation to social perception and gender. Studies II and III examine the relationships between social psychological variables and affirmative action, which is aimed at diminishing inequalities between social groups. Together, the studies showed that gender plays a role in intergroup bias, both as an independent variable and as an object of social discrimination. Conservative ideologies predicted ingroup favouritism, but variably. Attitudes towards affirmative action were influenced by the way this issue is semantically framed. The results are discussed in relation to the theories of intergroup relations exposed above and the pertinent issue of attitude ambivalence in understanding outgroup favouritism.</p>

Intergroup relations are characterised by favourable and unfavourable biases. Towards one’s own group these biases are mostly favourable – ingroup favouritism. Research has, however, shown that outgroup favouritism, that is, the preference for a group to which the person does not belong, also permeates intergroup relations. Several theories such as social identity theory, social dominance theory, and system justification theory offer explanations of the dynamics of intergroup relations and biases. Despite not strictly being a theory of intergroup relations, right-wing authoritarianism also offers an explanation of intergroup bias by accounting for prejudice and ethnocentrism. Likewise, ideological conservatism has been shown to influence intergroup relations. Based within these theories, this dissertation attempts to explain the social-psychological mechanisms regulating in- and outgroup favouritism. More specifically, Study I examines issues of power and legitimacy in relation to social perception and gender. Studies II and III examine the relationships between social psychological variables and affirmative action, which is aimed at diminishing inequalities between social groups. Together, the studies showed that gender plays a role in intergroup bias, both as an independent variable and as an object of social discrimination. Conservative ideologies predicted ingroup favouritism, but variably. Attitudes towards affirmative action were influenced by the way this issue is semantically framed. The results are discussed in relation to the theories of intergroup relations exposed above and the pertinent issue of attitude ambivalence in understanding outgroup favouritism.

I vår undersökning vill vi synliggöra hur ungdomar tänker kring homosexualitet. Forskning kring ämnet homosexualitet bland ungdomar är viktigt för att visa alla de fördomar som finns i skolan och övriga samhället som i sin tur leder till att ungdomar med avvikande sexualitet mår psykiskt dåligt. Ämnet homosexualitet är ett brett forskningsområde. I vår undersökning har vi valt att behandla kunskapsbakgrunden med både avhandlingar, vetenskapliga artiklar, rapporter och organisationers information för att få en heltäckande bakgrund av vårt ämnesval. Vi har gjort en kvalitativ undersökning där vi delat ut enkäter till tre olika gymnasieklasser. Genom vårt resultat, som vi tolkade utifrån psykosociala teorier och forskning, kunde vi se att tjejer överlag har en mer positiv inställning till homosexualitet än killar samt att de ungdomar som hade någon form av relation till en homosexuell person hade en större acceptans till ämnet. / In this study we want to illustrate how youth thinks and feels about homosexuality. Studying just this has been shown to be very important, to show youth and society how prejudice and bad attitudes against the subject can produce psychological problems among youth with deviating sexualities. Homosexuality is a very large area of study. We have chosen to focus our study on the knowledge-background, dissertations, scientific articles, reports, and different organisation’s information to try and completely cover the subject we have chosen. We made a qualitative questionnaire, which we then handed out to tree different classes in the upper secondary school for answering. Through our results, which we concluded based on the psychosocial theories and scientific studies earlier made in this area, we could see that females in general had a more positive approach to homosexuality than males. It also showed that males/females who could relate to, or knew a homosexual individual had a bigger understanding and where more tolerating to it.

Le thème de cette thèse est le droit des femmes à la fin du dix-huitième siècle dans les romans de l’auteure britannique Jane Austen. L’abus psychologique (et parfois physique) entre femmes est omniprésent au moment où le sujet de l’égalité entre hommes et femmes est à son apogée. Depuis la publication du volume Jane Austen and the War of Ideas de Marilyn Butler, on ne limite plus nos interprétations aux significations littéraires des romans, au contraire, elles se multiplient dans les champs culturels, sociaux, économiques... Ceci permet de mieux comprendre l’époque reflétée dans ses oeuvres. Les interactions humaines se compliquent: les mères essayent à tout prix de « vendre » leurs filles à l’homme le plus riche. Pour ce faire, ces mères résistent aux normes patriarcales. De plus, les femmes veuves sont problématiques car leur statut social ne peut pas être défini. Austen peint et critique les veuves autonomes qui essayent vigoureusement d’exercer leurs pouvoirs à travers leur sexualité et en manipulant leur vocabulaire dans le but de monter dans l’échelon social. En fait, les femmes de tous âges et toutes classes essayent de manipuler les autres pour leurs gains personnels. L’obtention de pouvoir fait en sorte que ces femmes compétitives ne créent pas une société inclusive: elles se marginalisent encore plus. Ce combat interne permet d’autant plus aux hommes d’injurier les femmes. Finalement, avec la montée du cinéma de nos jours, les oeuvres d’Austen sont traduites pour atteindre un grand nombre de spectateurs. Parmi la panoplie de films, l’abus est traduit et interprété à différents degrés. / The focus of this study is women’s rights in Jane Austen’s novels. Despite the increasing awareness of individuality and human rights, psychological (and often physical) abuse exists. After Marilyn Butler’s seminal study Jane Austen and the War of Ideas, Austen is better understood within the contexts of her time. Human relationships are much more complicated as mothers try to “sell-off” their daughters to the highest bidder. These women attempt to secure their own financial future regardless of their children’s wishes or patriarchal norms. Moreover, widows who once exercised power through their husbands see this power relinquished, as society tries to identify their social status. Austen criticizes independent widows who try to obtain power by using their sexuality and manipulative language. The need for control spreads to all females no matter their social standing. This develops a competitive nature amongst them that limits the growth of society. This lack of unity allows men to abuse women themselves. Finally, with the advent of film studies, it is important to look at Austen novels translated into this media. Directors interpret abuse in various degrees, but most acknowledge its presence.

As obras de Jane Austen são extremamente populares tanto entre leitores comuns e estudiosos de literatura desde a época em que foram publicados, no início do século XIX até os dias de hoje. Tamanha popularidade foi responsável por inúmeras obras de arte, especialmente na literatura e no cinema, que foram ou implicitamente ou explicitamente influenciados pela obra de Austen. Um de seus romances mais adaptados é Orgulho e Preconceito, talvez seu romance mais lido, estudado e adaptado. Um dos motivos para tal apreciação é provavelmente resultado dos valores morais que Jane Austen expõe em seus romances. Estes valores, mesmo duzentos anos mais tarde, permanecem importantes e de grande valor, especialmente na era pós-moderna, quando o excesso de liberdade e alternativas parecem deixar a humanidade mais desprovida de um suporte seguro na vida. Esta é a razão que permite um fã de Austen encontrar na religião um possível diálogo, onde, em um mundo cheio de incertezas, certos códigos morais são as certezas a que alguém pode se segurar. Em 2003, Andrew Black dirigiu o filme Pride and Prejudice: a latter-day comedy1, uma transposição moderna do romance de Austen, no qual os personagens vão à igreja e estudam em uma universidade religiosa. Meu trabalho busca estabelecer uma relação entre o livro de Jane Austen, o filme de Andrew Black e as questões sobre moralidade e religião, e como o romance e o filme estabelecem uma conexão não apenas em seus elementos de ficção como personagens e enredo, mas principalmente no que diz respeito a uma das possíveis mensagens finais em ambas obras. / The works of Jane Austen are extremely popular both among average readers and literature scholars from the time they were published, in the early 19th century until today. Such popularity has been responsible for innumerous works of art, especially in literature and cinema, that were either implicitly or explicitly influenced by Austen’s work. One of her most adapted novels is the 1812 novel Pride and Prejudice, which is perhaps her most read, studied and adapted novel. One of the reasons for such appraisal has probably to do with the moral values Jane Austen exposes in her novels. Those values, even two hundred years later, remain important and of great worth, especially in the postmodern era, when the excess of freedom and alternatives seems to make humanity more deprived of a secure ground in life. This is the reason that allows an Austen fan to find in religion a possible dialogue, where, in a world full of uncertainties, some moral codes are the certainties one can hold onto. In 2003, Andrew Black directed a movie entitled Pride and Prejudice: a latter-day comedy, a transposition of Austen’s novel to a modern setting, where the characters are themselves churchgoers and students at a religious university. My work is aimed at establishing a connection between Jane Austen’s novel, Andrew Black’s movie and the issue of morality and religion, and how the novel and movie establish a connection not only in terms of fictional elements such as characters and plot, but mainly in regards to one of the possible final messages in both works.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Jane Austen is an important English writer at the turn of the eighteenth into the nineteenth century. She is praised for her vivid description of the English society, the development of important narrative techniques, and the deep psychological treatment of her characters. In her six novels, Austen discusses social and literary issues that were important in her day. Therefore, Austen’s fiction has been the subject of a wealth of critical studies. Nonetheless, there is an aspect of her fiction that has not been sufficiently studied yet, namely, the notions of reading and readers. Two novels are especially meaningful to discuss this issue: Pride and Prejudice (1813) and Sense and Sensibility (1811). Thus, this study aims to identify and discuss the notions of reading and readers in both novels. The characters/readers of each novel are analyzed with regards to their individual attitude as readers of fictional and non-fictional texts and of the circumstances they live. The analysis enables us to discuss the notions of reading and readers that the author defends or criticizes. We can affirm that this topic was not only an important subject for Jane Austen and the English society, but also an internalized and structuring aspect of her novels. The reading and re-reading process experienced by Austen’s characters allows for their psychological depth once the narrative voice penetrates into the characters’ consciousness or moves away from them in order to comment on and evaluate their attitude as readers. In both novels, the author discusses the process of internalization and subjectivation of reading. Therefore, through the different notions of reading and readers present in Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, Austen not only defends the importance of reading and re-reading for the reader’s intellectual and emotional maturity (an issue that is still topical), but also opens up new perspectives for the novel as a literary genre. / Jane Austen é uma importante escritora inglesa da virada do século XVIII para o XIX, aclamada pela vívida descrição da sociedade inglesa, pelo desenvolvimento de importantes técnicas narrativas e pelo aprofundamento psicológico de suas personagens. Além disso, em seus seis romances, Austen discute questões sociais e literárias importantes para sua época. Assim, a obra de Jane Austen possui fortuna crítica extensa. Todavia, há um aspecto de seus romances ainda insuficientemente estudado: as concepções de leitura e de leitores neles elaboradas. Dois romances representativos dessa questão são Pride and Prejudice (1813) e Sense and Sensibility (1811). Em vista disso, este estudo discute as concepções de leitura e de leitores nesses dois romances. A análise das personagens-leitoras, em cada romance, permite perceber suas posturas individuais quanto aos textos que leem e às circunstâncias que vivem, e discutir quais concepções de leitura e de leitor são defendidas ou criticadas pela autora. Conclui-se que a questão de leitura e de leitores era tanto um assunto relevante para Jane Austen e para a sociedade inglesa da época como também um elemento internalizado e estruturante dos romances da autora. O processo de leitura e releitura, com o qual as personagens de Austen estão envolvidas, permite o aprofundamento psicológico das mesmas através da voz narrativa que ora penetra na consciência das personagens ora se afasta delas para comentar e avaliar sua postura como leitores. Nos dois romances, a autora discute o processo de internalização e subjetivação da leitura. Assim, por meio das diferentes concepções de leitura e de leitores presentes em Pride and Prejudice e Sense and Sensibility, Austen defende não só a importância da leitura e da releitura para o amadurecimento intelectual e emocional do leitor (tema ainda de interesse contemporâneo), como também abre novas perspectivas para o romance como gênero literário.

As obras de Jane Austen são extremamente populares tanto entre leitores comuns e estudiosos de literatura desde a época em que foram publicados, no início do século XIX até os dias de hoje. Tamanha popularidade foi responsável por inúmeras obras de arte, especialmente na literatura e no cinema, que foram ou implicitamente ou explicitamente influenciados pela obra de Austen. Um de seus romances mais adaptados é Orgulho e Preconceito, talvez seu romance mais lido, estudado e adaptado. Um dos motivos para tal apreciação é provavelmente resultado dos valores morais que Jane Austen expõe em seus romances. Estes valores, mesmo duzentos anos mais tarde, permanecem importantes e de grande valor, especialmente na era pós-moderna, quando o excesso de liberdade e alternativas parecem deixar a humanidade mais desprovida de um suporte seguro na vida. Esta é a razão que permite um fã de Austen encontrar na religião um possível diálogo, onde, em um mundo cheio de incertezas, certos códigos morais são as certezas a que alguém pode se segurar. Em 2003, Andrew Black dirigiu o filme Pride and Prejudice: a latter-day comedy1, uma transposição moderna do romance de Austen, no qual os personagens vão à igreja e estudam em uma universidade religiosa. Meu trabalho busca estabelecer uma relação entre o livro de Jane Austen, o filme de Andrew Black e as questões sobre moralidade e religião, e como o romance e o filme estabelecem uma conexão não apenas em seus elementos de ficção como personagens e enredo, mas principalmente no que diz respeito a uma das possíveis mensagens finais em ambas obras. / The works of Jane Austen are extremely popular both among average readers and literature scholars from the time they were published, in the early 19th century until today. Such popularity has been responsible for innumerous works of art, especially in literature and cinema, that were either implicitly or explicitly influenced by Austen’s work. One of her most adapted novels is the 1812 novel Pride and Prejudice, which is perhaps her most read, studied and adapted novel. One of the reasons for such appraisal has probably to do with the moral values Jane Austen exposes in her novels. Those values, even two hundred years later, remain important and of great worth, especially in the postmodern era, when the excess of freedom and alternatives seems to make humanity more deprived of a secure ground in life. This is the reason that allows an Austen fan to find in religion a possible dialogue, where, in a world full of uncertainties, some moral codes are the certainties one can hold onto. In 2003, Andrew Black directed a movie entitled Pride and Prejudice: a latter-day comedy, a transposition of Austen’s novel to a modern setting, where the characters are themselves churchgoers and students at a religious university. My work is aimed at establishing a connection between Jane Austen’s novel, Andrew Black’s movie and the issue of morality and religion, and how the novel and movie establish a connection not only in terms of fictional elements such as characters and plot, but mainly in regards to one of the possible final messages in both works.

The study goal was to construct and psychometrically validate a negative’s attitudes towards trans people scale (EANT) as an expression of prejudice against trans. Two interdepen- dent sequential studies through questionnaires are reported, both rely on non-probabilistic samples: Study 1, involves 203 participants, mainly college students, addresses the construction and exploratory analysis of the EANT. Study 2, involving 408 participants assigned according to s ociodemographic quotes established by the national census in the general population, shows confirmatory factor analysis and external validation of the scale. A sole factor 9-item instrument, with acceptable internal consistency (α = .886) was obtained. The results suggest good applicability in general population studies. Expected relations with typical variables (ATLG, RWA, SDO and religiosity) were procured. / Se construye y valida psicométricamente una escala de actitudes negativas hacia personas trans (EANT) como expresión del prejuicio hacia las mismas. Se reportan dos estudios secuenciales interdependientes por cuestionarios a partir de muestreos no probabilísticos. El estudio 1, con 203 participantes, en su mayoría estudiantes universitarios, aborda la construcción y análisis exploratorio de la EANT. El estudio 2, con 408 participantes según cuotas sociodemográficas establecidas por el censo nacional en la población general, estudia los análisis factoriales confirmatorios y la validación externa de la escala. Se obtuvo un instrumento unifactorial de 9 ítems, con una consistencia interna aceptable (α = .886) que sugiere una adecuada aplicabilidad en población general, así como relaciones esperables convariables típicas (ATLG, RWA, SDO y religiosidad).

As obras de Jane Austen são extremamente populares tanto entre leitores comuns e estudiosos de literatura desde a época em que foram publicados, no início do século XIX até os dias de hoje. Tamanha popularidade foi responsável por inúmeras obras de arte, especialmente na literatura e no cinema, que foram ou implicitamente ou explicitamente influenciados pela obra de Austen. Um de seus romances mais adaptados é Orgulho e Preconceito, talvez seu romance mais lido, estudado e adaptado. Um dos motivos para tal apreciação é provavelmente resultado dos valores morais que Jane Austen expõe em seus romances. Estes valores, mesmo duzentos anos mais tarde, permanecem importantes e de grande valor, especialmente na era pós-moderna, quando o excesso de liberdade e alternativas parecem deixar a humanidade mais desprovida de um suporte seguro na vida. Esta é a razão que permite um fã de Austen encontrar na religião um possível diálogo, onde, em um mundo cheio de incertezas, certos códigos morais são as certezas a que alguém pode se segurar. Em 2003, Andrew Black dirigiu o filme Pride and Prejudice: a latter-day comedy1, uma transposição moderna do romance de Austen, no qual os personagens vão à igreja e estudam em uma universidade religiosa. Meu trabalho busca estabelecer uma relação entre o livro de Jane Austen, o filme de Andrew Black e as questões sobre moralidade e religião, e como o romance e o filme estabelecem uma conexão não apenas em seus elementos de ficção como personagens e enredo, mas principalmente no que diz respeito a uma das possíveis mensagens finais em ambas obras. / The works of Jane Austen are extremely popular both among average readers and literature scholars from the time they were published, in the early 19th century until today. Such popularity has been responsible for innumerous works of art, especially in literature and cinema, that were either implicitly or explicitly influenced by Austen’s work. One of her most adapted novels is the 1812 novel Pride and Prejudice, which is perhaps her most read, studied and adapted novel. One of the reasons for such appraisal has probably to do with the moral values Jane Austen exposes in her novels. Those values, even two hundred years later, remain important and of great worth, especially in the postmodern era, when the excess of freedom and alternatives seems to make humanity more deprived of a secure ground in life. This is the reason that allows an Austen fan to find in religion a possible dialogue, where, in a world full of uncertainties, some moral codes are the certainties one can hold onto. In 2003, Andrew Black directed a movie entitled Pride and Prejudice: a latter-day comedy, a transposition of Austen’s novel to a modern setting, where the characters are themselves churchgoers and students at a religious university. My work is aimed at establishing a connection between Jane Austen’s novel, Andrew Black’s movie and the issue of morality and religion, and how the novel and movie establish a connection not only in terms of fictional elements such as characters and plot, but mainly in regards to one of the possible final messages in both works.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the foundations of prejudiced attitudes toward Mexicans held by White Americans and to investigate a means of reducing it, paying specific attention to prejudice found within a subpopulation of White Americans. The origins of American prejudice toward Mexicans are outlined using both historical and psychological explanations. An understanding of these origins leads to the notion that increased favorable contact is the best method for reducing prejudice. A field study focusing on prejudice toward Mexicans among ecclesiastical volunteers demonstrated that missionary service can be considered a means of favorable contact. Eighty-one White American Latter-day Saints were measured on their levels of prejudice toward Mexicans and the amount of favorable contact with Mexicans before and during their service assignments in the American Southwest. Results indicated that individuals reported significantly more favorable contact after six months of service and significantly less prejudice. There were no significant differences in the amount of favorable contact or levels of prejudice between individuals who were assigned to Spanish-speaking or English-speaking service assignments.