Social Stereotypes And Prejudice

Social stereotyping and prejudice has been seen, observed, and felt throughout all ages. It is something everyone develops within early childhood development. How? many would ask well because each individual is exposed to a different setting and surrounded by numerous of different people and different cultural variations. All in which as they grow up and become adults those two aspects as well evolve. It’s not only the culture but the way the child is raised and the morals that he or she learned. As well the child’s understanding of his or her individual rights. Meaning the children’s view on personal choice as something wrong. Limitations are placed the development of early childhood is not as complex as it seems and effects adulthood. Although age is only but a number, as well in adulthood you live through situations where you are as well exposed to both stereotyping and prejudice. Does it truly make any difference, not at all. There are a variety of factors that contribute to prejudice. Like overly high self-esteem and their views of personality traits and the social world in which people are divided into different groups. These factors go hand in hand according to researchers because they both are tied together. Leading to the conclusion that prejudice is a contributor to social stereotyping and vice versa.
Literature Review Prejudice and stereotyping maintain social inequality in
psychology prejudice is not defined as the typical statement some individual makes stating their opinion or belief. Prejudice in the field of psychology recognized by researchers is defined as an attitude including the feeling of dislike. Behind prejudice comes along the concept of stereotyping individuals. Keep in mind the development of children towards adulthood is crucial when it comes to this concepts. At a young age children are exposed to both concepts where than it is their individual right to make a personal choice where they choose to judge it as something or bad. The use of stereotypes yes impact certain individuals more than the others but regardless the age the concept of stereotyping is used to make simpler the social world we live in. By stereotyping a person can in a way infer that certain individuals have similar characteristics and so we isolate them in specific groups. Which overall leads to “social categorization” which is the reason for having individual with prejudice attitudes. This leads to negative outcomes overall a conflict that not only it affects the individual but as well becomes a social issue later on life. While doing research both concepts are very broad depending on the circumstance and differences in which some individual experiences. How the individual comes to obtain certain attitudes in which is a representation of prejudice. The article I researched as a point of reference dealt with Osama Bin Laden the statements he made against the killing of Americans and how it was a way to be rewarded by their god. Bin Laden his focus was on non-Muslim Americans that specific group was indeed the “main target of prejudice”. It was to the point he wanted to see them killed. “Where prejudices lurk, stereotypes are seldom far Behind” (Plous). Stereotypes have varied throughout the years for example nowadays they usually are used to typically isolate a race. Stereotypes can definitely be an issue because they “are not only harmful in their own right; they do damage by fostering prejudice and discrimination” (Plous). Stereotyping people leads us to separate individuals putting them in categories. Individuals often classify their experiences in a variety of different categories. “It is a fundamental and universal aspect of human cognition” (Cohen). Cohen states that stereotyping is human nature and is a way of helping individuals process things faster and more efficiently. The negative aspects of stereotypes evolve overall in how individuals distinguish a certain group. Both concepts throughout centuries are viewed as one in the same. Having both subjects stereotyping and prejudice be relatable to one another researchers have learned that prejudice reflects some ideological trends and representing some personal biases. McLeod on the other hand had a different perspective.
He saw that unlike saying prejudice and stereotyping are one in the same. He saw that yes stereotyping along with prejudice may result as the form of discrimination, but he stated that regardless there was a difference between discrimination and prejudice. He stated that “a prejudiced person may not act on their attitude; therefore, someone can be prejudiced towards a certain group but not discriminate against them” (McLeod). He stated that discrimination involves just behavior whereas prejudice is related to attitude
only. Extensive research made has found prejudice for the most part is the production of stereotyping. We’ve since this since early history to present day. From the isolation of slaves into categories and isolating because of others stereotyping in a negative way. As well Osama Bin Laden and 9/11 when he wanted the distraction of many Americans because of prejudice. Or even to present day now where children in schools whether at a young age or adolescence separate themselves into groups because of the creation of stereotypes. Because it is easier to do that rather than seeing more than what meets the eye. Children learn this action from the parenting they obtain, the setting in which they live, and overall the choices they make. Prejudice and stereotyping go hand in hand and affects both an individual within the childhood and adulthood stage of their life and their involvement in society in which stereotyping and prejudice has negative effects.