A Critical Discussion of the Psychological Explanations of Prejudice

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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

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