Prejudice is best defined as
Group of answer choices
a perceived incompatibility of actions or goals.
an unjustifiable and usually negative attitude toward a group and its members.
the tendency to favor members of one’s own group.
the belief that victims of misfortune deserve their fate.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is:
an unjustifiable and usually negative attitude toward a group and its members.
Explanation:
Prejudice is a social psychological concept that refers to preconceived, often negative, attitudes or feelings directed toward people based solely on their membership in a particular group. These attitudes are unjustifiable because they are not based on reason, evidence, or personal experience with individuals in the group, but rather on stereotypes, misconceptions, or irrational biases.
To break down why the other options are incorrect:
- “A perceived incompatibility of actions or goals” refers more to conflict rather than prejudice. Conflict arises when groups or individuals perceive their objectives or actions as opposing, but it doesn’t necessarily involve attitudes or feelings, especially not negative or unjustifiable ones.
- “The tendency to favor members of one’s own group” describes in-group bias or ingroup favoritism, which is related to but not the same as prejudice. While in-group bias involves preferential treatment of one’s own group, prejudice focuses specifically on negative attitudes toward others.
- “The belief that victims of misfortune deserve their fate” is known as the just-world hypothesis or just-world bias, a cognitive bias where people believe the world is fair and people get what they deserve. This is different from prejudice because it concerns beliefs about fairness and deservingness rather than unjustified negative attitudes toward groups.
Further Detail on Prejudice:
Prejudice often involves emotions such as fear, hostility, or dislike, and is based on generalized beliefs or stereotypes about a group rather than facts or personal experiences. It is a pre-judgment, meaning the attitude is formed before any direct knowledge or interaction with the group members. Prejudice can be directed toward various groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, and other social categories.
Prejudice is harmful because it can lead to discrimination, which is the unfair treatment of individuals based on these negative attitudes. Prejudice also contributes to social divisions, reinforces stereotypes, and perpetuates inequality.
Understanding prejudice is important for addressing social injustice, improving intergroup relations, and promoting equality and acceptance. By recognizing and challenging prejudicial attitudes, individuals and societies can work toward reducing bias and fostering more inclusive environments.
If you want, I can also provide examples or discuss how prejudice manifests in real-world scenarios!