Groups and Stereotypes in Georgia
Social psychologist Susan Fiske researches stereotypes across the countries and examines how power dynamics play part in shaping attitudes about the groups societies consist of. The last research of its kind entailed a Georgian sample in collaboration with Nino Javakhishvili and Ana Makashvili from Uznadze Institute of Psychology. The following visualisations are based on this data.
In Fiske’s Stereotype Content Model status and competitiveness of the groups give rise to stereotypes (how warm and competent these groups are perceived) which on their part elicit emotional experiences with specific actions ensued.
The first treemap shows that when people think of a group as competitive (i.e. that takes resources away from others) such group is viewed as less warm (not friendly, ill-intentioned, immoral). Elderly people take the least space on the map, so they are deemed as least competitive but people think they are friendly and sincere, with good intentions.
Status defines how competent people see groups in their society. If some group is seen as holding high position jobs they might also be skilled and competent.
These graphs below indicate how different groups elicit different emotional responses in people. In this case, both the size of the section group takes on the chart and colour signify intensity of emotions. Notice how businessmen and the rich share admiration with priests and orthodox church. No wonder the chairs of Prime Minister and City Mayor attract candidates with jingling pockets.
These emotions neatly correspond to the actions directed towards these groups. LGBT community is the most hated so people exclude or fight them rather than initiate cooperation or helping behaviour.
While most of these graphs tell nothing surprising, it’s causal chain of interconnected variables that paint bigger picture as to how people see different groups in society.
The other virtue of Fiske’s research is making clear that people hold ambivalent attitudes towards others. Older people might not be able to compete with others but people think they are ‘warm’, kind and mean no harm. The rich are competent, skilled but the same group gives people a pang of envy.
