6.1 Defining and distinguishing prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination
3 min read•august 7, 2024
, , and are interconnected concepts that shape social interactions and societal structures. These biases, both conscious and unconscious, influence how we perceive and treat others based on group membership.
Understanding these concepts is crucial for recognizing and addressing inequalities. By examining the roots of prejudice and stereotypes, we can work towards creating more inclusive environments and combating discrimination in various aspects of life.
Understanding Bias
Types of Bias
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Cognitive bias cheat sheet – Better Humans View original
refers to unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions
Operates outside of conscious awareness and control (hiring managers may unconsciously prefer candidates who are similar to themselves)
involves conscious attitudes or beliefs we have about a person or group on a conscious level
Overt and intentional (openly stating a preference for one group over another in a job posting)
describes systematic errors in thinking that impact judgments and decisions
Includes confirmation bias (seeking information that confirms preexisting beliefs) and availability heuristic (overestimating the importance of readily available information)
In-Group and Out-Group Bias
involves favoring and preferring members of one's own group over those in other groups
Leads to preferential treatment, empathy, and allocation of resources to in-group members (supporting and promoting colleagues from the same alma mater)
involves holding negative attitudes and beliefs towards those outside one's own group
Results in negative treatment, prejudice, and discrimination against out-group members (assuming an employee is less qualified because they are of a different race or ethnicity)
Prejudice and Stereotypes
Prejudice
Prejudice refers to a preconceived opinion or attitude toward a person or group that is not based on reason or actual experience
Often negative and directed towards a particular race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation
Can lead to discrimination and unjust treatment (avoiding interactions with colleagues of a certain race due to prejudiced beliefs)
Prejudice can be conscious (explicit) or unconscious (implicit)
Conscious prejudice is intentional and overt (stating that members of a particular group are inferior)
Unconscious prejudice operates outside of awareness (unknowingly acting less friendly towards members of a certain group)
Stereotypes
A stereotype is a widely held but oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or group
Often based on characteristics such as race, gender, age, or religion (assuming all members of a particular race are good at math)
Stereotypes can be positive or negative
Positive stereotypes ascribe favorable traits to a group (Asians are naturally intelligent)
Negative stereotypes attribute unfavorable characteristics (Muslims are terrorists)
Stereotypes are harmful because they fail to account for individual differences and lead to prejudice and discrimination
Discrimination
Understanding Discrimination
Discrimination involves acting on prejudiced attitudes or stereotyped beliefs to treat people unjustly or unfairly
Encompasses behaviors and actions that create disparities and disadvantages for particular groups
Discrimination can occur at individual, institutional, or systemic levels
Individual discrimination involves one person discriminating against another (a manager not hiring a qualified candidate because of their race)
Institutional discrimination refers to policies or practices that create disparate impacts for certain groups (a company's hiring practices consistently excluding women)
Systemic discrimination describes inequities and injustices embedded within social structures and systems (racial disparities in incarceration rates due to biased policing and sentencing)
Discrimination can be based on various characteristics such as race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, or disability status
Results in unequal opportunities, treatment, and outcomes for marginalized groups (LGBTQ+ individuals facing housing and employment discrimination)