Prejudice
Definition
Prejudice is a preconceived opinion or bias against someone or something, often not based on reason or actual experience.
Analogy
Think of prejudice as a pair of tinted glasses. Just like how the glasses color everything you see without giving you the real picture, prejudice colors your perception about certain people or groups without considering their true characteristics.
Related terms
Stereotype: A generalized belief about a particular category of people. It's like an oversimplified mental picture that doesn't consider individual differences.
Discrimination: The unjust treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex. It's like choosing to only eat red apples because you believe they're superior to green ones, even though both are nutritious and tasty in their own ways.
Bias: An inclination towards one particular group, person, or ideology over another. It's like having a favorite football team and always cheering for them regardless of who they're playing against.
"Prejudice" appears in:
Subjects (1)
Study guides (1)
Practice Questions (15)
What would be an effective intervention for reducing prejudice and improving relations between two antagonistic groups?
What factor contributes significantly towards understanding prejudice from a social-learning perspective?
What term describes the act of treating people differently because of prejudice?
Which theory suggests that prejudice arises from competition between groups for scarce resources?
Which psychological theory suggests that prejudice can be reduced through cooperative interaction between groups?
Which psychological factor contributes to prejudice by encouraging conformity to social norms and attitudes?
Which theory best explains how stereotypes can lead to prejudice and discrimination?
Chad thinks his Latino neighbor would be involved in criminal activities because of his ethnicity; which type of prejudice does this represent?
John doesn't hire older applicants as he believes they will retire soon; which form of prejudice does this describe?
What psychological mechanism contributes most directly to the development of prejudice?
What does the Robber's Cave Experiment illustrate about prejudice and in-group bias?
How did the Robbers Cave experiment improve our understanding of intergroup conflict, prejudice, and discrimination?
In what way can confirmation bias lead to unethical psychology practice related to prejudice and discrimination?
Which psychological theory emphasizes the role of learned behaviors in contributing to prejudice and discrimination?
Which theory suggests that prejudice can be reduced by increasing contact between groups?
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