The 5 Causes of Prejudice

Answer 1

Whether or not there is a biological root to prejudice, as evolutionary psychologists would expect, is unknown; however, it is clear that prejudice occurs between biologically similar people who hold different beliefs.

The Way We Think: Social Cognition:

The first step in prejudice is the creation of groups. Once we have mental categories, we group stimuli into them by similarities, downplaying differences between members of a group and exaggerating differences between members of different groups.

How We Assign Meaning: Attributional Biases:

The self-fulfilling prophecy is the case whereby people (a) have an expectation about what another person is like, which (b) influences how they act toward that person, which (c) causes that person to behave in a way consistent with people's original expectations.

Prejudice and Economic Competition:

Several historical studies document that prejudice, discrimination, and violence against out-group members is positively correlated with the scarcity of jobs or other resources. Correlational and experimental data exist that support group conflict theory.

Realistic Conflict Theory:

Scapegoating is the tendency for individuals, when frustrated or unhappy, to displace aggression onto groups that are disliked, visible, and relatively powerless.

The Way We Conform: Normative Rules:

In societies in which racism and sexism are institutionalized, normative conformity leads to the tendency to go along with the group in order to fulfill their expectations and gain acceptance.

Answer 2

1. Socialization: People learn prejudices from family, friends, and society.
2. Stereotypes: Beliefs about a particular group that may not reflect reality.
3. Competition: Intergroup competition can lead to prejudice against out-groups.
4. Scapegoating: Blaming a particular group for society's problems.
5. Fear of the unknown: Lack of familiarity with a group can lead to prejudice and discrimination.