Causes of Prejudice and Discrimination

1
Causes of Prejudice and Discrimination
2
(No Transcript)
3
Learned Prejudice Theory

• prejudice and the willingness to discriminate are
  attitudes that are learned.
• this process begins in early childhood and is
  transmitted by agents of socialization such as
  mass media, peer group, family values and
  attitudes, etc.
• because prejudice and discrimination are learned,
  they can be unlearned though this process may
  take a long time.

4
(No Transcript)
5
Frustration-Aggression Theory

• because life can be difficult and trying at
  times, people may become frustrated when they are
  prevented (of feel that they are being prevented)
  from accomplishing their goals.
• when this frustration continues for a prolonged
  period of time, people begin searching for
  explanations for their difficulties.
• this can lead to blaming others for their
  personal frustration (scapegoats) and to some
  people becoming aggressive towards the group.
• often, the target becomes a particular religious
  or ethnic group and this can lead to prejudice
  and discrimination.

6
(No Transcript)
7
Competition Theory

• rapidly changing social and economic conditions
  in modern societies can lead to competition for
  jobs and other scarce resources.
• to give themselves a competitive advantage or
  edge, the dominant group in society may try to
  exploit (take advantage of) another, less
  powerful group in order to control these
  resources.
• to justify this desire to exploit another group,
  the dominant group may choose to see the group
  they are exploiting as inferior this opens the
  door to prejudice and discrimination.
• competition for scare resources becomes most
  acute when economic conditions are not favourable.

8
(No Transcript)
9
Ignorance Theory

• lack of information and/or personal experience
  can lead to incorrect assumptions and stereotypes
  about other groups.
• over time, like a vicious circle, ignorance can
  lead to deeper feelings of prejudice and harsher
  forms of discrimination.