Prejudice

Prejudice is a cognitive bias that involves forming an opinion or assumption about an individual or group based on generalizing characteristics, often discarding specific details in the process. This bias relies heavily on stereotypes and oversimplified beliefs about a group, resulting in assumptions that don't account for individual variations.

How it works

Prejudice operates by encouraging individuals to categorize others based on superficial traits like race, gender, or age. The human brain, in its effort to process large amounts of social information efficiently, tends to rely on heuristics—mental shortcuts that simplify complex information. This leads to the formation of generalized beliefs or stereotypes, which can overshadow the nuanced differences found within any group.

Examples

• Assuming that someone is not competent in math or science based on their gender.
• Believing that individuals from a specific region inherently possess certain negative traits.
• Discriminating in hiring practices because of preconceived notions about a candidate’s ethnic background.

Consequences

Prejudice can have far-reaching impacts, contributing to systemic discrimination and reinforcing social inequalities. It affects personal relationships, workplace dynamics, and broader social cohesion, often leading to conflict and misunderstanding. Prejudiced attitudes can also impair decision-making, leading to unfair treatment of individuals based solely on group affiliation rather than personal merit.

Counteracting

To counteract prejudice, raising awareness and promoting education around diversity and inclusion are crucial. Encouraging critical thinking and empathy helps individuals to recognize and challenge their biases. Exposure to diverse groups and perspectives, coupled with training programs that emphasize cultural competence, can also mitigate prejudicial biases.

Critiques

Critiques of prejudice often focus on the need for systematic change rather than solely individual action. There's an argument that addressing prejudice requires not just individual-level interventions but also organizational and policy changes that dismantle institutional biases. Additionally, while efforts to counter prejudice are essential, they must be enduring and adapted to the evolving societal contexts to remain effective.

Fields of Impact

Also known as

Relevant Research

• Addressing the Naysayers: A Conceptual Framework for Understanding Whiteness in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

  Murray, JS. (2019)

• Institutional Entrenchment of Bias in PCB: A Case Study of Language and Role Lenses

  Taylor, P. (2020)

• Managing Diversity: Toward a Globally Inclusive Workplace

  Mor Barak, M. (2017)