The Power Of The Situation Essay Research — страница 3

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negative beliefs (stereotypes) that justify the attitude, and a behavioral intention to avoid, control, dominate, or eliminate those int he target group.” (Zimbardo 615). The “us” versus “them” mentality results in social categorization in which people place themselves and others into groups. To say that prejudice had little or no role in the riots is simply wrong. Yet a thorough examination of racism and it’s socio-economic implications in America cannot be explained within the context of this short paper. Instead, for the purpose of this study, it is important to realize that once formed, prejudices exert a powerful force on the way relevant experiences are processed. African and Hispanic Americans living in the inner cities harbored grievances against a perceived

discriminatory system imposed by whiles, and when officers’ Koon, Powell, Wind, and Briseno were acquitted of charges of brutality toward Rodney King, there ensued a riot in Los Angeles which lasted for three days and took the nation by utter surprise. This is a powerful case which empirically displays that human thought and action are deeply affected by situational influences. The participants constructed a social role that caused them to act contrary to their beliefs, values, and personalities in order to resolve their grievances.