Racial Prejudice And Its Effects On Society - 887 Words

Racial prejudice can often occur during first impressions, as individuals quickly associate a person’s appearance with particular personality characteristics. An example of this association would be to assume that someone who is wearing a hijab is a terrorist or that someone of an Asian decent is highly intellectual. These associations are often used to organise our lives and arrange the overwhelming stimulation, however individuals must be able to discriminate when categorizing is appropriate and when it is inappropriate. To reduce problems of racial prejudice in society, individuals need to recognize and alter these cognitive strategies that are causing them to briefly categorize people inappropriately. Nonetheless, children need to become aware of these destructive cognitive strategies and discouraged from categorizing people as well. Witter, Hammer and Dunn discuss in the textbook Adjust, that stereotypes are frequently automatic customs that occur unintentionally and unc onsciously. However, they also express that these automatic customs can be superseded, though it requires awareness from the individual that their prejudgment are flawed. If effort it put forth, individuals can alter their subjective negative perceptions, reforming them towards thoughts of equality and kindness towards all members in society. When individuals become aware that their prejudices may be a result of ignorance, misleading media representations, unhealthy parenting or a combination ofShow MoreRelatedRacial Prejudice And Its Effects On Society886 Words   |  4 PagesRacial prejudice often transpires through first impressions, when meeting someone for the first time individuals tend to classify each other associating particular physical features with personality characteristics, before truly getting to know that person. An example of this association would be to assume that someone who is wearing a hijab is a terrorist or that someone of Asian decent is highly intellectua l. To reduce problems of racial prejudice in society individuals need to alter these cognitiveRead MoreRacial Discrimination And Its Effects On People And Society1653 Words   |  7 PagesRacial discrimination has many effects on people and the society, and these effects are mostly negative. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee, the author, demonstrates racial discrimination and its effects through Tom Robinson s case. Tom Robinson is accused of raping and beating Mayella, and Atticus Finch is the man who steps up to defend this innocent man in the town of Maycomb, where everyone was decided from racial prejudice. In the three following sources, Montgomery Boycott, White PeopleRead MoreTo Kill a Mockingbird Analysis933 Words   |  4 Pagesreading of the novel is focused on the issues of racial prejudice, but there are also a number of other alternative and oppositional readings. Examples of this are the Marxist and feminist readings which can be applied to the text. Lee has invited the reader to interpret the dominant reading of racial prejudice. It is obvious to the reader that racial prejudice is incorrect and the treatment of ‘African-Americans is cruel and unjust. Racial prejudice is also a major theme in the novel and it isRead MorePrejudice And Stereotyping : A Social Psychological Perspective1160 Words   |  5 Pages Prejudice Stereotyping: A social psychological perspective The ability and desire to relate to someone or compete with others, is a fundamental norm and a common aspect in everyday life. The notion to discern ‘us’ from ‘them’ is a way we make inferences of the people we meet and engage with. These everyday inferences affect the way we think, use, and interpret information which guide us to behaviors and beliefs. We use prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination all too often andRead MoreDifferences Between Minority And Minority Groups1443 Words   |  6 Pagesbetween majority and minority groups and their awareness of blatant and subtle prejudice, by priming either common or dual identity. It was hypothesized that due to their marginalization, minority groups will be more aware of both subtle and blatant prejudice and that those primed with dual identity will show a similar heightened awareness. The results demonstrated that majority groups were more aware of both types of prejudice, contradicting many p revious results in this area. This study was conductedRead MoreSociological Theories Of Prejudice And Racism1645 Words   |  7 PagesSociological Theories of Prejudice and Racism Functionalist theory argues for race and ethnic relations to be functional and thus supply to the melodic conduct and strength of society, racial and ethnic minorities must assimilate into that society. Assimilation is a process by which a minority becomes socially, economically, and culturally absorbed within the dominant society. The assimilation perspective assumes that to become fully fledged members of society, alternative groups must adopt as muchRead MoreShould Racial Slurs Be Banned From Society?847 Words   |  4 PagesShould Racial Slurs be Banned from Society? Racial slurs have grown within American history as our society has developed into one of the greatest superpowers of the world. As a nation, America has fought several internal and external wars to advance into a free country and attain the rights it now holds. These rights, or moral principles, were established to protect the residents inhabiting each state. Countless rules of regulation against racism have been enforced by Congress beginning from theRead MoreThe Colors Of Racism By John Steinbeck And Of Mice And Men 1330 Words   |  6 PagesThe Colors of Racism in Of Mice and Men The struggle of racism in America is one which has been regularized in American society. The devaluation and undermining of colored individuals has become commonplace, due to social injustice. In particular, racial discrimination prevails among African American societies due to the color of their skin, and the stereotypical notions of racial superiority that the white race illuminates. For over three-hundred years, the African American communities have been oppressedRead MoreA Raisin Of The Sun, By Lorraine Hansberry And Down These Mean Streets By Piri Thomas880 Words   |  4 PagesRacial prejudice and discrimination often leaves its victim in a weak and vulnerable state; it elicits emotions of helplessness, non-belonging, and may manifest itself in a binding and enduring identity crisis. In the course of American history, decades of progress have been made to amend the wrongs of slavery, the wrongs of discrimination and prejudice, and the wrongs of segregation and morally conflic ting understandings of equality. People such as Martin Luther King Jr. had helped pushed for acceleratedRead MoreAttitudes, Racism and Culture Essay1521 Words   |  7 PagesPsychology Research Essay: Attitudes, Racism and Culture Focus: Simple interpersonal contact is not sufficient enough to reduce prejudiced attitudes. Prejudice is most likely to be reduced when several factors are in effect. _________________________________________________________ Attitudes are long term ideas individuals hold about themselves, objects, other people and issues. They have three components; affect (feelings), behaviour (actions) and cognition (thoughts). Attitudes are not something