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:

1. Lack of understanding of someone's culture or religion
2. Looking for someone to blame when things aren't going well
3. Ongoing cycles passed from generation to generation
4. 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).

Characteristics and Types of Discrimination

This page delves into the various characteristics and types of discrimination, with a focus on racism and its impacts.

Definition: Racism involves pre-judging or forming an opinion about a person based on their race, without real knowledge of them. It includes the belief that they are inferior.

Characteristics of discrimination include:

• Can be caused by organizations through policies
• May be positive (e.g., helping a blind person)
• Often rooted in deeply held negative beliefs and stereotypes
• Can be direct (overt actions) or indirect (less obvious but still harmful)

Example: Direct discrimination might include name-calling or violence, while indirect discrimination could involve not being selected for a job or sports team.

The text also introduces the concept of minority groups and their experiences with discrimination.