Evolutionary Origins of Stigmatization: The
Functions of Social ExclusionRobert Kurzban and Mark Leary
Lauren Frazier, Jessica Williams, Chris Kelleher
Functions of Stigmatization
Dyadic Cooperation Coalitional ExploitationParasitic Avoidance
Dyadic CooperationMechanism designed to
avoid individuals who are poor partners for social exchange. Examples of those who
are of low social value: homeless, mentally ill, criminals.
This stigma evokes anger and a need to punish.
Coalitional ExploitationMechanism designed to
exclude members from reaping the benefits of membership from one’s own group. Examples of this type of
stigmatization: ethnocentrism, in-group bias, out-group exploitation.
Emotions evoked: fear and hate.
Parasitic AvoidanceMechanism designed to
prevent prolonged contact with those who carry transmittable pathogens/diseases.
Emotions evoked: disgust and revulsion, causes the individual to avoid the potential contagion.
Mean Girls Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
gZ_qXmxdgGMDemonstrates Coalitional Exploitation model of
stigmatization.“Plastics” (in-group) are at the top of the social
hierarchy, and all the other groups “Jocks”, “Cool Asians”, “Nerds” (out-group) are the bottom of the hierarchy.
DiscussionSocial Viscosity: any tendency for individuals to
continue living close to the place they were born (Dawkins, 218).
Our question: do you live in the same state you were born in? The same city?
Can we live in a world with no stigmas? An egalitarian society?