Causes of Prejudice and Discrimination
This section explores the reasons behind prejudice and discrimination, highlighting the difference between the two concepts.
Definition: Prejudice is a thought or judgment about someone, while discrimination is acting on that thought or judgment towards someone.
Causes of prejudice include:
- Lack of understanding of someone's culture or religion
- Looking for someone to blame when things aren't going well
- Ongoing cycles passed from generation to generation
- Media influence on perceptions of others
Highlight: Prejudice often stems from a lack of knowledge or understanding, while discrimination involves taking action based on prejudiced beliefs.
The text emphasizes that prejudice can lead to various forms of discrimination, both direct e.g.,name−calling,violence and indirect (e.g., not getting a job, exclusion from activities).