Chapter 2

White Dominance and

the Weight of the West

Minimal Group Paradigm

Suggests that human beings tend to demonstrate discriminatory in-group and out-group dynamics even when there is a limited basis for drawing distinctions between members of groups.

Two Basic Lessons of Minimal Group Theory

Even when distinctions are meaningless people still draw them between themselves and groups.

They then ascribe values of superiority and inferiority to the various groups they created.

Social Personality

Subjective DimensionsHow you see yourself and how you see others

Objective Dimensions Relates to social position in terms of

quantitative and observable measures• Example: Education Level or Job Title

Social Dominance Theory

Human social systems are predisposed to form social hierarchies, with hegemonic groups at the top and negative reference groups at the bottom.

Hegemonic groups tend to be disproportionately male, a phenomenon that social dominance theorist call the “iron law of andrancy.”

Most forms of social oppression, such as racism, sexism, and classism, can be viewed as manifestations of group-based social hierarchy.

Social hierarchy is a survival strategy that has been selected by many species of primates, including Homo sapiens.

Social Dominance Theory

Privilege and Penalty

Certain groups receive privileges whether or not they are earned, while other groups receive penalties by no fault of their own.

The Lens of Indigenous Experience

The Methodologies of DominanceDisease WarfareLand TheftReligionMissionaries and Bureaucrats EducationAlienation and Alcohol

The Possibility of Change

“The beasts of dominance comes in many colors and guises and whites alone do not hold a monopoly on the imposition of human suffering.” (pg. 50)