What Is Prejudice?
Simple Definition of Prejudice
Prejudice is a negative, usually unjustified attitude directed toward people simply because they are members of a specific social group.
In simpler terms: Prejudice means "pre-judging" someone based on their group membership (such as race, gender, religion, or age) rather than their individual qualities. It involves broad, sweeping generalizations about others that are often inaccurate and unfair.
Example: If a person believes that people from Country A are less intelligent than people from Country B, that person holds prejudice toward those from Country A—regardless of any actual evidence about individual abilities.
Prejudice Definition in Psychology
In psychology, prejudice is defined as a negative attitude toward a group and its individual members. It is a complex phenomenon that consists of three interconnected components, often referred to as the ABC model:
| Component | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affective | Negative feelings or emotions toward the group | Feeling fear, anger, or disgust toward members of a group |
| Behavioral | Discrimination or unfair treatment | Avoiding, excluding, or treating group members differently |
| Cognitive | Stereotypes and beliefs about the group | Believing "all members of X group are lazy" |
Unlike stereotypes (which are cognitive beliefs about groups) or discrimination (which is behavioral action), prejudice specifically refers to the negative attitude itself. However, these three concepts are closely related and often occur together.
Explicit vs. Implicit Prejudice
| Type | Definition | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Explicit Prejudice | Conscious, openly expressed negative attitudes | Individual is aware of their bias; may be expressed verbally or through deliberate actions |
| Implicit Prejudice | Unconscious, automatic negative associations | Individual may be unaware; measured through tests like the IAT; can influence behavior without conscious intent |
Types of Prejudice
Prejudice can be directed toward many different social groups. Common types include:
- Racial Prejudice: Negative attitudes based on race or ethnicity
- Gender Prejudice (Sexism): Negative attitudes based on gender
- Ageism: Negative attitudes based on age
- Religious Prejudice: Negative attitudes based on religious beliefs
- Stereotype Threat: The risk of confirming negative stereotypes about one's group
- In-group/Out-group Bias: Favoring one's own group over others
Origins of Prejudice
Prejudice can arise from various social and psychological processes. One prominent theory is the social identity theory, which suggests that people derive a sense of identity and self-esteem from their group memberships. This group identification often leads to favoring the ingroup (the group one belongs to) over the outgroup, resulting in prejudice towards those who are different.
Another key factor is the process of social learning. Prejudice is often learned through exposure to the beliefs and attitudes of those around us, such as family members, peers, and societal institutions. Cultural norms and media representations also play a significant role in perpetuating prejudiced attitudes by reinforcing certain stereotypes and negative perceptions of specific groups.
The concept of realistic conflict theory also helps explain prejudice. This theory posits that competition over limited resources, such as jobs or social status, can lead to hostility between groups. When groups perceive each other as competitors, negative attitudes and prejudice are likely to develop as a means of protecting one's own interests.
Psychological Mechanisms of Prejudice
Prejudice is driven by several psychological mechanisms, including cognitive biases and emotional responses. One important cognitive bias is the outgroup homogeneity effect, where individuals perceive members of the outgroup as being more similar to each other than members of their own group. This oversimplification leads to negative generalizations about entire groups.
Another mechanism is implicit bias, which refers to unconscious attitudes that influence how we perceive and interact with others. Implicit biases often contribute to prejudiced behaviors even when individuals consciously reject discriminatory beliefs. These biases can affect everyday interactions, from hiring decisions to social relationships.
Automatic Prejudice
Automatic prejudice (also called implicit prejudice) refers to the unconscious, spontaneous activation of negative associations with certain social groups. Unlike deliberate prejudice, automatic prejudice:
- Occurs without conscious awareness
- Can be triggered quickly by group-relevant cues
- May conflict with a person's consciously held beliefs
- Can influence split-second decisions and behaviors
Research using the Implicit Association Test (IAT) has shown that automatic prejudices are common, even among individuals who explicitly reject discrimination. These automatic associations can affect judgments in hiring, healthcare, criminal justice, and everyday social interactions.
Emotions also play a crucial role in prejudice. Feelings of fear, anger, or disgust towards an outgroup can reinforce negative attitudes and make prejudice more resistant to change. For instance, during times of economic uncertainty or political instability, fear can amplify prejudiced attitudes as people seek to blame certain groups for their problems.
The Impact of Prejudice
Prejudice has significant social and psychological consequences, both for those who hold prejudiced beliefs and for those who are the targets of prejudice. On an individual level, prejudice can lead to discrimination—unfair treatment of people based on their group membership. This can manifest in various forms, from verbal harassment to systemic inequalities in employment, education, and healthcare.
For those targeted by prejudice, the effects can be profound. Experiencing prejudice can lead to negative psychological outcomes, such as increased stress, anxiety, and a diminished sense of self-worth. It can also limit opportunities for personal and professional growth, contributing to social inequality.
On a societal level, prejudice contributes to social division and conflict. It undermines social cohesion by fostering mistrust and hostility between groups, making it difficult to build inclusive and harmonious communities.
Reducing Prejudice
Reducing prejudice requires addressing both individual attitudes and societal structures. One effective approach is increasing intergroup contact under conditions that promote equal status and cooperation. According to Allport's contact hypothesis, positive interactions between members of different groups can help reduce prejudice by fostering greater empathy and understanding.
Education and awareness are also crucial for reducing prejudice. Encouraging individuals to critically examine their own biases and providing them with accurate information about marginalized groups can help challenge and change prejudiced attitudes. Programs that promote diversity and inclusion in schools, workplaces, and communities can also help break down barriers between groups.
Cognitive retraining techniques, such as perspective-taking and empathy-building exercises, have been shown to reduce prejudice by encouraging individuals to see the world from the perspective of others. By promoting empathy, these techniques help counteract the negative emotions that contribute to prejudice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is prejudice the same as racism?
No. Prejudice is a general negative attitude toward any social group, while racism specifically involves prejudice combined with systemic power and discrimination based on race. Racism includes both individual prejudice and institutional practices that disadvantage racial groups.
Is prejudice the same as discrimination?
No. Prejudice refers to negative attitudes, while discrimination refers to negative behaviors or actions. Prejudice is what you think or feel; discrimination is what you do. However, prejudice often leads to discrimination.
Is prejudice the same as stereotypes?
No. Stereotypes are generalized beliefs about a group (which can be positive, negative, or neutral), while prejudice specifically involves negative attitudes and evaluations. Stereotypes are cognitive; prejudice includes emotional and evaluative components.
Can prejudice be positive?
While the term "prejudice" typically refers to negative attitudes, psychologists sometimes distinguish between prejudice (negative) and favoritism or in-group bias (positive feelings toward one's own group). However, even "positive" prejudices can be problematic when they lead to unfair treatment of others.
What is an example of prejudice?
Examples of prejudice include:
- Believing that all elderly people are incompetent with technology
- Assuming that someone from a certain country is uneducated
- Thinking that people of a particular religion are dangerous
- Believing that women are less capable leaders than men
Conclusion
Prejudice is a deeply ingrained social and psychological phenomenon that influences how we perceive and interact with others. Understanding its origins, mechanisms, and effects is essential for addressing the biases that divide us. By promoting intergroup contact, education, and empathy-building, we can work towards reducing prejudice and creating a more inclusive and equitable society.
Discover Your Implicit Biases
Curious about your own unconscious biases? Take the Implicit Association Test to measure your automatic associations:
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Learn More
- Stereotype Threat - How stereotypes affect performance
- Microaggressions - Subtle forms of prejudice
- In-group/Out-group Bias - Why we favor our own group
- Modern Racism - Contemporary forms of racial prejudice
- Ageism - Prejudice based on age
- Learn More About Social Psychology
- Learn More About Psychology Research
- All Psychologists — browse the full biographical collection.
References
- Allport, G. W. (1954). The Nature of Prejudice. Addison-Wesley.