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प्रश्न
Discuss any three causes of prejudice. Also, suggest two ways of missing prejudice.
उत्तर
Prejudice is the negative attitude towards members of a particular social group based on their membership to the particular social group. There are several causes of prejudice- psychological, social and cultural.
They are as follows :
Social learning: Children acquire prejudices either by hearing or observing their parents, teachers, friends or others expressing prejudiced ideas and views. Children are adept at learning the prejudices when they are being rewarded or approved by others for expressing these views. Mass media like television, movies and newspaper play an active role in shaping prejudices.
For example often films portray a particular ethnic group in a negative light thereby leading to development of prejudice.
Realistic Competition: Prejudice emerges from competition among different groups with respect to various opportunities and valued resources such as adequate living, proper job, educational prospects, health facilities and other desirable commodities. This view proposed that various competitions lead to rivalry, hatred, prejudice and inter-group conflicts within the society. This fact serves the basis of ‘Realistic Conflict Theory’ (Bobo, 1983). This theory states that when compe¬tition increases the members of different groups start to view others as enemy. They see themselves as morally superior. Gradually competition turns into prejudice.
Social categorization: Another important cause of prejudice is categorization or labeling. People typically divide the social world into two discrete categories- ‘Us’ and ‘Them’. People are segregated as either belonging to their own group, termed as n- group or belonging to another group, termed as out-group. Such distinctions are based on many dimensions such as religion, race, age, sex, ethnic background, occupation, income and many other ways. Studies also indicate that the human mind usually views the members of the ‘us’ group more favourably than the members of the ‘them’ group. Generally, people develop prejudice against the members of the ‘out-group’.
Ways of resisting prejudice are as follows :
Inter-group contact- Direct contact with members of other groups (out-group) help to combat stereotypes and resist prejudice. This fact is suggested by what is called the contact hypothesis. It states that there are several reasons that prove proper contact with members of other groups may be effective in reducing prejudice against them. This is because increased contact between people belonging to different groups allows them to identify the similarities between them. These similarities generate positive feelings and likings towards the people of other groups.
Even increased contact with out-group members help in altering the stereotypes when sufficient stereotypes inconsistent information is received. Also intergroup contact help to negate the rigid belief associated with stereotypes that all members of the stereotyped group are similar. Intergroup contact may resist prejudice under certain conditions like :
- The groups interacting must belong to more or less same social status.
- The contact between them must involve cooperation and interdependence.
- Each group must view the members of out-group as typical to their respective group.
- Contact must ensure that each group gets to know the members of out-group individually.
Propaganda and education: Propaganda through newspaper, radio, television, movies are effective in reducing prejudice. Studies reveal that speakers are more effective than printed material; rational appeal is more effective than emotional appeal; oral propaganda is more effective in small groups than in large groups. Propaganda is more effective when the speaker is prestigious. Education makes people tolerant, socially adjusted and adaptive with all groups. Education enables a person to judge each and every individual as a human being having positive qualities. Thus educated people are more receptive to propaganda and are more flexible than less educated people.
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संबंधित प्रश्न
In the context of combating prejudice, ______ is referred to as ‘resetting the boundaries between Us and Them’.
Briefly explain Realistic Conflict Theory in prejudice with an example.
Prejudice is a type of
______ is discrimination between seen or unseen.
______ means that people feel obliged to return what they get.
Ashwin’s roommate at college, who belonged to a particular State, was always rude and selfish towards him. Ashwin now does not befriend or employ people from this State as he feels that they are all impolite. This is an example of ______.
Read the case and answer the questions that follow.
| The Pygmalion effect, or Rosenthal effect, is a psychological phenomenon in which high expectations lead to improved performance in a given area. The hypothesis was that expectations can influence performance. Robert Rosenthal chose an elementary school in California for his study and having tested all the children’s IQ, the researchers selected a sample of children at random. He informed the teachers that these were children of high academic potential. Following the test, the teachers were given the names of the ‘intellectual bloomers,’ but no scores were disclosed. At the end of the school year, all the students retook the test. While the overall scores had risen, the so called ‘intellectual bloomers’ had improved the most because of the teachers' efforts and the attention they got from them. The evidence seemed to indicate that the teachers’ expectations had an impact on the student outcomes, especially in the younger students. A similar process works in the opposite direction in the case of low expectations. The idea of the Pygmalion effect can be applied in many situations. Our beliefs about others can lead us to treat them in such a way that they subsequently start behaving in accordance with our beliefs. |
Identify and explain the source of prejudice which leads students to perform poorly?
Read the case and answer the questions that follow.
| The Pygmalion effect, or Rosenthal effect, is a psychological phenomenon in which high expectations lead to improved performance in a given area. The hypothesis was that expectations can influence performance. Robert Rosenthal chose an elementary school in California for his study and having tested all the children’s IQ, the researchers selected a sample of children at random. He informed the teachers that these were children of high academic potential. Following the test, the teachers were given the names of the ‘intellectual bloomers,’ but no scores were disclosed. At the end of the school year, all the students retook the test. While the overall scores had risen, the so called ‘intellectual bloomers’ had improved the most because of the teachers' efforts and the attention they got from them. The evidence seemed to indicate that the teachers’ expectations had an impact on the student outcomes, especially in the younger students. A similar process works in the opposite direction in the case of low expectations. The idea of the Pygmalion effect can be applied in many situations. Our beliefs about others can lead us to treat them in such a way that they subsequently start behaving in accordance with our beliefs. |
Explain the cognitive and behavioural components of the teachers’ attitude towards the ‘intellectual bloomers’ in the Rosenthal study.
Though urban areas are inhabited by the privileged as well as the underprivileged, the interactions between these two groups are minimal and often prejudiced.
Which one of the following ways can be used to reduce this prejudice?
Soham, a dedicated stay-at-home father, is often ridiculed by his family and friends who believe caregiving responsibilities fall on the woman as the wife. Despite his commitment and capabilities in managing household, Soham constantly faces prejudice due to these biases against men as house husbands and stay-at-home-fathers while the wife goes to work. This attitude of family and friends saddens him.
- Explain any two causes for the prejudice Soham is facing. (2)
- Suggest any two strategies for Soham to overcome this prejudice. (2)
