Role of Prejudice in the Life of a Person

Abstract

According to Cambridge Dictionary, prejudice means an unfair and unreasonable opinion or feeling, especially when formed without enough thought or knowledge. Prejudice is an unjustified or incorrect attitude towards an individual. It is normally a negative attitude towards an individual. Normally it is purely based on the individual’s membership of a social group. When a person holds prejudiced views towards a certain race or gender etc. (e.g. sexist), it is an instance of prejudice. Discrimination is related to the behavior or actions. It is also usually negative, towards an individual or group of people, particularly on the basis of sex/race/social class, etc. Prejudice can influence a person very deeply as to how to behave and interact with others, particularly with those who differ from them. Prejudice is, as such, a baseless and normally a negative attitude toward members of a group. The salient traits of prejudice are: negative feelings, stereotyped beliefs, and a tendency to discriminate against members of the group. Although specific definitions of prejudice expressed by social scientists often differ yet most of them agree that it involves prejudgments that are usually negative about members of a group. When people have prejudicial attitudes toward others, they are inclined to view everyone who fits into a certain group as being ‘all the same’. They brand every individual who holds particular characteristics or beliefs with a very broad category. They do not appreciate a person as a unique individual. Most people have had the experience of prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination at some time in his or her life. There is little doubt that social discrimination, prejudice, and hostility still create serious problems and challenges, even in today’s society which considers itself to be very advanced.