Final answer:
World War II and the Holocaust were critical in prompting a surge of social psychological research on prejudice, leading to influential studies and the development of strategies to reduce discrimination. Additional research was stimulated by events like the September 11 attacks, which resulted in increased prejudice towards Arab-Americans.
Step-by-step explanation:
The historic event that prompted a surge of social psychological research in the areas of prejudice was the aftermath of World War II, specifically the horrors of the Holocaust and the rise of civil rights movements. These events fostered a critical examination of prejudice and the social structures that support discriminatory behavior. Many scholars sought to understand the psychological underpinnings of prejudice and find ways to combat it.
During this time, notable studies such as Gordon Allport's 'The Nature of Prejudice' and the Robbers Cave experiment by Sherif et al. provided groundbreaking insights. Allport's work introduced key concepts in the field of prejudice, whereas the Robbers Cave experiment illustrated how intergroup conflict could be reduced by promoting shared goals. Additionally, post-World War II, the civil rights movement in the United States became a significant focus for social psychologists studying prejudice and discrimination.
Another expanse of research emerged following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, which incited negative attitudes and prejudices toward Arab-Americans. Jenkins et al. (2012) sought to measure these attitudes nearly a decade after the event, uncovering subtle forms of prejudice despite the absence of overt prejudicial attitudes in survey responses.
Racism and prejudice have also had historical impacts on policy and social responses to various groups, like Jewish refugees during World War II and Japanese Americans interned during the same period. Historic events and social challenges like these have consistently driven the field of social psychology to delve deeper into the complexities of prejudice and discrimination.