Factors affecting Prejudice

Factors Affecting Prejudice

Social Identification

• Social Identity Theory posits that people categorise themselves into in-groups and out-groups, and this creates a predisposition for prejudice.
• Strong identification with the in-group can lead to bias, discrimination, and prejudice towards members of out-groups.

Social Learning

• Learning theories suggest that prejudice may be learned through processes like reinforcement, modelling, and conditioning.
• Observational learning and imitation are key processes in acquiring prejudiced attitudes, especially from parents or influential figures.

Cognitive Processes

• Stereotyping is a cognitive process that can contribute to prejudice, whereby people overgeneralize characteristics and apply them to members of a group.
• Cognitive biases, such as confirmation bias where people selectively pay attention to information that supports their pre-existing beliefs, can also reinforce prejudice.

Influence of Authority

• Individuals sometimes maintain prejudiced views because they are promoted by perceived authorities or the popular opinion of their community.
• Media representation can influence individuals’ attitudes and perpetuate prejudice if certain groups are portrayed negatively or stereotypically.

Personality Factors

• Certain personality traits or belief systems can make some individuals more prone to prejudice. These include authoritarianism, dogmatism, and social dominance orientation.
• The Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis suggests that prejudice might be a displaced aggression from frustration.