The social psychology of minorities

The study of the relations between social groups within any society must first take into account the ‘objective’ conditions of their co-existence; that is, the economic, political, social and historical circumstances which have led to — and often still determine — the differences between the groups in their standards of living, access to opportunities such as jobs and education, or the treatment they receive from those who wield power, authority or sometimes simply brute force. But as John Rex (1970 ) wrote in his book on race relations, these objective conditions are always associated with widespread ‘subjective definitions’, stereotypes and belief systems. Our purpose here is to look at these various subjective aspects of the relations between minorities and majorities, to assess their importance in the total picture and to see how they contribute to the general pattern of the relations between the groups. Being a member of a minority presents the individuals concerned with the psychological requirements to adapt to the present situation or to do something in order to change it. The adaptations and the strategies for change which are possible axe finite in their number and variety. We shall attempt to discuss here some of those which appear to be the most frequently used and the most important.