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Prejudice

Prejudice (prejudice) is a negative or uncritical attitude, fixed belief, or stereotype that a person holds about other people or groups based on their membership in a particular category, such as race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, and other characteristics. 

Characteristics of prejudice:

  1. Stereotypes: Prejudice may be associated with persistent stereotypes about members of a particular group. These stereotypes are often simplified and exaggerated representations.

  2. Discrimination: Prejudice may lead to discrimination, that is, to negative actions or behavior toward people or groups based on their membership in a particular category.

  3. Ingroup and outgroup: Prejudice often arises in the context of dividing people into “us” (ingroup) and “them” (outgroup). The ingroup is the group with which a person identifies, and the outgroup is the group to which a person does not belong.

  4. Emotional valence: Prejudice may be accompanied by negative emotions such as hatred, fear, or contempt.

  5. Sociocultural context: Prejudice may be shaped and maintained by sociocultural factors such as cultural attitudes, media portrayals, political rhetoric, and other influences.