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Prejudice and Discrimination
Prejudice
 Prejudice
is a system of
negative beliefs, feelings, and
action-orientations regarding a
certain group or groups of
people.
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Prejudice and Discrimination
Prejudice
Prejudice- means “prejudgment”,
and unjustifiable and usually negative
attitude toward a group--often a
different cultural, ethnic or gender
group. It is a mixture of beliefs
(overgeneralized - stereotypes),
emotions (hostility, envy, or fear), and
predispositions to action (to
discriminate).
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Prejudice and Discrimination
Psychology of Prejudice

The psychology of prejudice examines
the subjective state of individuals,
noting three levels of prejudice:
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Cognitive
Emotional
Action-orientation
Some possible causes are selfjustification, personality, and frustration
aggression
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Prejudice and Discrimination
Psychology of Prejudice

Cognitive- person’s beliefs and perceptions of
group as threatening/non-threatening, inferior/
equal, seclusive/intrusive, impulse gratifying,
acquisitive, or possessing positive or negative
characteristics

Emotional - feelings that a minority group
arouses in an individual

Action-orientation - positive or negative
predisposition to engage in discriminatory
behavior.
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Prejudice and Discrimination
Psychology of Prejudice

Self-Justification- denigrating a person or group to
justify maltreatment of them, leading to prejudice and
discrimination against members of another group

Authoritarian personality - harsh parental
discipline, child tends to be insecure and nurture much
latent hostility against the parent. As an adult, may
demonstrate displaced aggression against a powerless
group to compensate for their feelings of insecurity and
fear.

Frustration - result of relative deprivation in which
expectations remain unsatisfied
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Prejudice and Discrimination
Sociology of Prejudice

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The sociology of prejudice examines the
objective conditions of society as social
forces behind prejudiced attitudes.
Some possible causes are-
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Socializations
Competition
Conformity to social norms
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Prejudice and Discrimination
Stereotype

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A stereotype is an overcomplicated
generalization by which we attribute
certain traits or characteristics to any
person in a group without regard to
individuals differences.
Once established, stereotypes are difficult
to eradicate, as several studies have
shown.
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Prejudice and Discrimination
Ethnophaulisms


Ethnophaulisms are derogatory words or
expressions used to describe racial or ethnic
groups.
Ethnic humor is often at the expense of a
particular group, but may also serve to
strengthen group cohesiveness, dissociate
oneself from stereotypes of one’s group, or
affirm oneself by pointing out the absurdity of
one’s predicaments..
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Prejudice and Discrimination
Social Prejudice

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Television plays a major roll in shaping
attitudes and perceptions.
Studies find television usually
perpetrates stereotypes as well as
reaffirming viewer attitudes.
One study showed one-fourth of
respondents believed TV depicted
reality and influenced their racial and
ethnic attitudes
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Prejudice and Discrimination
Social Prejudice


Greater interaction and education do not
necessarily reduce the level of prejudice in
a society.
Use of cooperative learning technique in a
classroom setting has demonstrated an
effective means of promoting better
intergroup understanding and self-esteem
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Prejudice and Discrimination
Discrimination

Discrimination is an action or practice
of differential and unequal treatment of
other groups of people, usually along
racial, religious, or ethnic levels.
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Prejudice and Discrimination
Discrimination

Like prejudice,
discrimination
also exists at
different levels of
intensity:

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Verbal expression
Avoidance
Exclusion
Physical abuse
Extermination
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Prejudice and Discrimination
Ethnoviolence


Ethnoviolence is a new term describing a
wide range of behavior against a particular
group.
Merton explains how social-situational
variables can influence the relationship
between prejudice and discrimination
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Prejudice and Discrimination
Ethnoviolence

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The International Scence boxed feature
discusses institutional discrimination
against the Irish in Northern Ireland.
(pg. 101)
Think about what must be done to
lessen the prejudice and discrimination
that sow the seeds of violence in
Northern Ireland.
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Prejudice and Discrimination
Affirmative Action

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From its origins in 1941 through the
present, affirmative action programs
have been controversial.
Supreme Court rulings in the late 1970’s
and 1980’s upheld the principle of
affirmative action but since 1989, a
more conservative court has been ruling
against ‘race-conscious remedies’.
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Prejudice and Discrimination
Affirmative Action

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Evidence about the program’s success is
mixed.
Minority group opponents call affirmative
action ‘misplaced condescension’ that has
poisoned race relations.
Negative public opinion polls and proposed
legislation suggest the real possibility of
significant changes to come.
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Prejudice and Discrimination
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What is prejudice? What are some of its
manifestations.
What are some of the possible causes of
prejudice?
What role do the media play in combating or
reinforcing stereotypes?
What is discrimination? What are some of its
manifestations?
What is the relationship between prejudice
and discrimination?
Discuss the pros and cons of affirmative
action.
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