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Sonia Zambiasi-Vines posted May 11, 2022 6:10 PM

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Prejudice comes about when we feel a certain way about a particular group, and the people within it. Myers & Twenge describe it as ‘a preconceived negative judgment of a group and its individual members’ (2018, p. 238). If you are prejudice, it may mean that you do not like a person or group that has a different belief, behavior, or appearance than yourself – you may even think that they are not as clever as you are, or that they are in some way dangerous or scary. And whilst prejudice is about our attitude, discrimination is the behavior that can come about because of that attitude. Usually, people discriminate because they are prejudice against someone (Myers & Twenge, 2018). For example, an employer may have a pre-conceived idea that a female cannot do the job, and then demonstrate discrimination by only hiring men. These issues could be reduced by educating people to change the way they think of others, and highlighting what is the same between them, rather than pointing out differences. Also, laws and policies which ban discriminatory behavior, and reward treating people equally, help reduce the problem.

The common reasons for forming relationships can sometimes become negative aspects of prejudice and discrimination because these common reasons include similarity, appearance, and reciprocal attraction – this means that we tend to flock together we people who look like us, and are like us. This then, in turn, can breed prejudice because we are in groups that are not mixed, and so the groups becomes distinctly different, and prejudices develop as like-minded people begin to think of other groups in the same way, and then support each other with the same prejudicial attitudes.

The social sources of prejudicial thinking include:

1. Socioeconomic status: for example, a person who is wealthy may be prejudice against a poor person, believing them to be lazy, unambitious, and stupid

2. Generational: a parent may express prejudicial beliefs onto his/her child

3. Social institutions: the government, school, the media and so on might either explicitly or passively support prejudicial ideas.

The source that I consider to be the most effective in breeding prejudices is in the media. Prejudices are learned, not inherent. As a parent, I have done my best to raise my children no have prejudices, yet they learn them via movies, television, and social media. Parenting is also very important; what we teach our children in their formative years can remain with them for life – so as parents and guardians, we have a responsibility to not pass down prejudices we have, and to educate our children on what is right.

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Amanda Simpson posted May 6, 2022 11:40 AM

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• Describe the basis behind prejudice and discrimination. Explain ways in which these issues can be reduced? Explain how the common reasons for forming relationships can sometimes become negative aspects of prejudice and discrimination.

Social psychologists define prejudice as the lack of knowledge, information, ignorance, and stereotyping. Prejudice leads to discrimination. Social Discrimination is the differential treatment of a person based on their social class, cultural background, education, etc. Prejudice is unconscious and automatic, while discrimination is both conscious and unconscious. Prejudices are the preconceived attitudes, positive or negative, about a given group or individual. Social discrimination is a particular form of discrimination in which social behavior toward or against a person or group is based on social perceptions of their characteristics. Prejudices include three components, 1. The effective (ranging from discomfort to hate), 2. Cognitive ( assumptions and beliefs including stereotypes), 3. Behavioral (includes discrimination). We often see prejudices based on characteristics like race, sex, religion, culture, and more in society. Prejudice is often confused for discrimination or forms of oppression such as racism and sexism. While discrimination and oppression characterize behavior by powerful groups directed toward the less powerful, anyone can be prejudiced. Prejudice is an attitude that can trigger abusive actions. Most sociologists define discrimination as an action or a group of actions. So while the two concepts are linked, they are not the same. Prejudice does not automatically cause discrimination, but is almost always a influence. Prejudices have a significant effect on our external relationships. If someone holds strong prejudices, they will avoid having certain friends altogether. For example, they may choose to only associate with people of the same race as them or avoid having gay friends. (Meyers, 2018).

• Describe each of the social sources of prejudice thinking. Support your answer with relevant examples. Explain which of the three sources you consider to be the most effective in breeding prejudices.

Unequal Status, Masters view slaves as lazy, irresponsible, lacking ambition—as having those traits that justify slavery. Once these inequalities exist, prejudice helps justify the economic and social superiority of those who have wealth and power. People view enemies as subhuman and depersonalize them with labels. (Meyers, 2018).

The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy negative beliefs predict negative behavior (or problems in life). If a person thinks we are clever or stupid or whatever, they will treat us that way. If we are treated as if we are clever, stupid or whatever, we will act, and even become, this way. The person has thus had their prophecy about us fulfilled. This is also known as the Pygmalion Effect(Meyers, 2018).

Stereotype Threat a self-conforming apprehension that one will assessed based on a negative stereotype. refers to being at risk of confirming, as self-characteristic, a negative stereotype about one’s group. Black college first-year students and sophomores performed more poorly on standardized tests than White students when their race was emphasized. When race was not emphasized, however, Black students performed better and equivalently with White students. The results showed that performance in. (Meyers, 2018).

Social Identity Self-concept—our sense of who we are—contains not just personal identity (our sense of personal attributes and attitudes) but also a social identity (Meyers, 2018).

Ingroup Bias The group definition of who you are—your race, religion, gender, academic major—implies a definition of who you are not. The circle that includes “us” (the ingroup) excludes “them” (the outgroup)Thus, a mere experience of being formed into groups may promote ingroup bias. Due to human quest for a positive self-concept, (Meyers, 2018).

Conformity If prejudice is socially accepted, many people will follow the path of least resistance and conform to fashion. They will act not so much out of a need to hate as out of a need to be liked and accepted.

The three that are most effective in breeding prejudices are unequal status, ( prejudice helps justify the economic and social superiority of those who have wealth and power ) stereotype threat ( academic contexts can be harmed by the awareness that one’s behavior might be viewed through the lens of racial stereotypes), and conformity (If prejudice is socially accepted, many people will follow the path of least resistance and conform to fashion) .