A Critical Discussion of the Psychological Explanations of Prejudice
Gordon Allport described prejudice as “aversive or hostile attitude
toward a person who belongs to a group, simply because he belongs to
that group, and is therefore presumed to have the objectionable
qualities ascribed to that group”. Prejudice is assuming things about
a person putting them into a group. The aim of this essay is discuss
the attempts to reduce prejudice and explain how successful they have
been. In this essay, it is prejudice in the form of racism and
prejudice against homosexuals that I will use
It is important that we know what discrimination means. Discrimination
is very similar to prejudice, rather than just being a thought or
opinion on something, discrimination is the thoughts from being
prejudice influencing a person’s behaviour in a negative way.
There are many explanations of prejudice given by psychologists and I
will write about these in my essay. One psychological theory by
Stephan and Stephen called Integrated Threat Theory of Prejudice
describes how fear can cause prejudice. This fear has a few sources,
one being that a person has the belief that the other person will do
them harm, another is the other persons attitude will challenge their
own and the belief that any contact with the other person will cause
embarrassment, rejection or ridicule (2000 Clayton Tucker-Ladd).
Another theory by psychologists to explain prejudice is that we learn
prejudiced attitudes. An example of this is it can pay to be
prejudiced, such as the boss who pays his female worker 20% less than
males. Another example in which people learn prejudiced ...
... middle of paper ...
... from each other’s differences.
Prejudices will always be around; if people took an interest in each
other then this would decrease. It is important that studies on the
subject continue to help our future society.
Bibliography
(1999) Internet, http://innercity.org/holt/slavechron.html
Eddie Baker
(2004) Internet,
http://www.stonewall.org.uk/stonewall/?CFID=251547&CFTOKEN=82061104
(2004) Internet,
http://www.c21project.org.uk/citizenship_21/?CFID=251547&CFTOKEN=82061104
Gleitman, (1981) Psychology, Fourth Edition published by Norton pp565
Internet, http://www.beyondprejudice.com Jim Cole
(2000) Internet,
http://www.biography.com/search/article.jsp?aid=9340144&page=8&search
Biography Resource Centre, Gale Group
(2000) Internet, http://mentalhelp.net/psyhelp/ Clayton Tucker-Ladd
Some people say prejudice is part of human nature. Others think we learn it from our elders. Either one could be true, as there are various controversial beliefs about why prejudice exists in the world. One interesting theory is that prejudice is an emotional reaction that is triggered in our brain whenever we encounter unknown people, who have different physical characteristics, different personalities, and/or different beliefs. In fact, these unfamiliar people scare us, and we start treating them differently to reassure ourselves that they cannot possibly matter to us. Another possible reason for prejudice could be negative education about others, either direct or indirect. An example of the direct type would be that you are deliberately taught to avoid certain people who are discriminate...
There are many examples throughout “The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street” that show that prejudice is a human flaw. According to Les Goodman, “You were so quick to kill, Charlie, and you were so quick to tell us who we had to be careful off. Well maybe you had to kill. Maybe Peter there was trying to tell us something. Maybe he’d found out something
Prejudice is an issue that cannot be easily avoided in today's society. It has and always will have a huge impact on the discrimination that some people face based on religion, appearance, background, mental/physical disabilities and etc.
Family, friends, work environment or media can be a factor in promoting prejudice against others. A certain individual can learn discrimination, plus prejudice, in the factors I illustrated. In the ...
In 1954, social psychologist Gordon Allport published a book regarded as the point of divergence for modern researchers into the nature of prejudice, and it highlighted methods for mitigating prejudice in the society. Allport delineates the inclusive origins of intergroup discrimination and also series of recommendations to eliminate prejudice. Undoubtedly, for the past fifty years, Allport theories have made the most practical attempt to promote intergroup relationship. Allport defined prejudice as a social aversion based on a faulty and obstinate generalization of an individual or a group of people grounded on their social category or group membership (Allport, 1954). According to Allport (1954), prejudice and stereotyping emerged partly due to normal human thinking
Many often justify discrimination through the means of statistical evidence, claiming that groups that are stigmatized deserve their treatment by citing negative attributes about them. However, this paradox is frequently unresolved to even those who realize the fallacy in discrimination. Several researchers in social psychology, including Galen V. Bodenhausen and Jennifer A. Richeson, have offered potential reasons behind this happening; “It should come as no surprise that individuals’ attitudes and stereotypical beliefs affect the way intergroup interactions unfold. Indeed, individuals who harbor negative stereotypes about the group membership of their interaction partners often display behavior that conforms to their stereotypical beliefs”(Bodenhausen & Richeson, 361). This shows how those discriminated against are likely to adapt to their societal status, and thus often behave according to their respective stereotypes. From this, one can begin to infer that this paradox is a reinforcing cycle, and that prejudice forms as a result of discrimination. Building upon this trend, in the final chapters of the text, a Peters reflects on the trends and results derived from Jane’s exercises, and how it related to the act of discrimination itself; “But even more pernicious, [the exercise] also illustrates how the results of discrimination tend
Brown's (1995) definition of stereotyping through prejudice is the 'holding of derogatory social attitudes or cognitive beliefs, the expression of negative affect, or the display of hostile or discriminatory behaviour towards members of a group on account of their membership to that group'. This definition implies that stereotyping is primarily a group process, through the individuals psyche's within that group. A further idea of stereotyping, defined by Allport (1954) as 'thinking ill of others without warrant', is that people 'make their mind up' without any personal experience. This pre judgement about a whole group is then transferred to the stigmatisation of any individuals in that group. It is these ideas that the essay aims to evaluate, through the cognitive process of categorisation and the above definitions that bring about three distinct features of stereotyping, that our cognition can be demonstrated through.
Segregation has and still affects perceptions of Blackness inside and outside the Black community by making Black people see themselves as White people see them. Many of Black people have accepted the fallacy that they were inferior to White people at a young age, and Whites learned that Blacks were lower then Whites at a young age as well.
To estimate means to estimate (something) to be smaller or less important than it actually is. Underestimate can lead to people doubting themselves because other people are underestimating them making them feel worthless. When people feel worthless they tend to not talk to anyone and just want to be alone just being lonely all because people underestimated them and now they hate their life. When people start to hate their life they might commit suicide killing themselves and never coming back to life. People shouldn’t underestimate people because sometimes they can take it personal.
Ignorance is a huge problem, it is one of the biggest factors responsible for issues such as racism and sexism. Luckily, ignorance, generally speaking, is a relatively easy issue to fix. The obvious answer here would be more education, but this is not necessarily the case. In order to eliminate much of the racism, sexism, and other forms of prejudice that arise due to ignorance, it is necessary to look at education from another perspective: one that encourages togetherness and development alongside people of all races and genders. One quote by Grace Boggs book The Next American Revolution summarizes the issue perfectly. “Just imagine what our neighborhoods would be like if, instead of keeping our children isolated in classrooms for twelve years and more, we engaged them in community-building activities with the same audacity with which the civil rights movement engaged them in desegregation activities fifty years ago! ...Our children will be absorbing naturally and normally the values of social responsibility and cooperation at the same time that they are being inspired to learn the skills and acquire the information necessary to solve real problems” (Boggs 158). So, the main point here is that prejudice, against all sexes, genders, and creeds, can be eliminated via education that encourages cooperation with the largest variety of people. In order to understand this concept, it is necessary to look at it from a few different perspectives to analyze its viability in modern society.
Prejudice can be caused because of various reasons. Religion, ethnic race and social status are examples of causes of prejudice. Sometimes prejudice is caused by how we are raised. Many times parents pass on prejudice beliefs to their children. A lot people raised in the southern part of the country are prejudice against blacks. In the early to mid 1960’s, prejudice was alive and well in the south. Blacks had their own bathrooms and were forced to ride in the back of city busses. It’s hard to believe that was doing on only 40 years ago. A lot of Middle Eastern countries are very prejudice against women.
Social Psychologists can help resolve this issue by studying the reasons why some people practice prejudice and then teaching people how to reach within themselves and alter negative perceptions of others. Once we learn some of the ways discrimination is conceived, we may find ways that avoid the creation of them and decrease the likelihood of it occurring. To alter this harsh behavior, one must surround himself with the type of environment that encourages the positive characteristics of living with individuals who are different from him. “Confidence is knowing who you are and not changing it a bit because of someone’s version of reality is not your reality”
Darcy jumped awake at the sound of pounding on the door. With slow, deliberate care, he ejected himself away from Amanda so not to wake her, and slipped out from under the covers, catching the time on the nightstand as he moved. Who would disturb them at half past four in the morning? It must be Wickham.
Prejudice is another obstacle that clients are faced with because of an assumption made about them. Being prejudice can negatively impact emotional well-being and one's sense of self. Actions of others may stop a client from getting the help or assistance they may need because of the fear of being judged. Prejudice often stems from stereotypes about groups of people. “Fear, uncertainty, stubbornness, denial, lack of confidence or a lack of hope, or even the inability to envision the future can be significant obstacles to change” (Summers, 2014, p. 240).
Everyone has some prejudices or biases that guide how they treat others throughout the day. Sometimes, those prejudices are so intense that others are harmed or treated badly in the workplace where everyone should be treated with respect. Common prejudices are based on race, ethnicity, and cultural backgrounds. This paper will look at when a party is treated differently because of ethnicity even if they are of the same race as the person prejudicial to them.