Psychology †Stereotype Essay

Prejudice means the attitude toward the members of some group based solely on their membership in that group and it can be positive or negative. The main reason of prejudice is most probably stereotyping and it involves generalizations about the typical characteristics of members of the groups. Prejudice is ubiquitous and it affects all of us and it sometimes cause negative consequences. Hence, many people search works or studies to remove prejudice effects. We also learn from texts which is called ‘’Understanding Prejudice and ‘’The Cognitive Process’’ by Gordon W. Allport. In addition George Aliken says †If we were to wake up some morning and find that everyone was the same race, creed, and color, we would find some other causes for prejudice by noon. ’’ It shows that prejudice cannot be removed totally and I strongly agree with this statement. In other words, people cannot have a chance to get rid of prejudices because of many stereotypes, a fear of the unfamiliar and the effects of social environment. Stereotypes is the main factor why it is impossible to get rid of prejudice totally. Each society has many stereotypes about different issues and it is impossible to isolate people from society not to affected these stereotypes. To begin with, stereotypes may cause dangerous results if they are taught as truths especially for children. It is called early learning process and it includes passive acceptance of information and lack of awareness. (Cole, Jim Understanding Prejudice) It also don’t give opportunity to children to test these stereotypes or any information which is given by instructors or adults. I mean that especially children can gain many new stereotypes easily and they may believe as a truth. If this condition happens, it would very difficult to change or manipulate these belief systems because many psychologists argue that childhood is most important process to shape character and many characteristic feature are gained at childhood. (http://psychology. about. com/od/developmentalpsychology/a/childdevtheory. htm) For example, a teacher who hates black people can teach that black people are bad and even evil. It is undoubted fact that children who are in that classroom is influenced badly by this approach because students especially who are in elementary school trust their teacher completely. It can affect whole life of people and it is difficult to prevent. On the other hand, any experience cause to acquire new and dangerous stereotypes. Actually, experiences are more effective way to gain stereotypes because memory generally cannot be forgotten but inputs are easily forgotten in a short time. According to research, Children who have bad childhood memory which cause change the viewpoint toward any group say that these kind of events influence whole life. It is way to gain stereotypes and it may cause discrimination if event relates to black people or muslim people. Children start to think all black people bad and we should avoid them, if any black people stole their money or beat them.. These kind of event affect all children and they cannot forget even now. (http://www. ehow. com/info_8621376_bad-childhood-affect-relationships. html) There is important point to have stereotypes, it does not matter how you acquire it. Sometimes national belief or values cause prejudice, sometimes unconscious people cause it. Prejudice prevent people from listening the other people and this is a big obstacle to developing empathy skills. Hence, stereotypes is main factor to acquire prejudice and also it is main obstacle to get rid of prejudice. Being a part of any group is so important thing for many people. They think that they cannot live without this because they believe that groups prevent them from being alone and it is necessary to compete others. There is competition between group members so being a part of a group is important point. (Dugan, A. Maire Prejudice) However, it causes prejudice against other groups because group members start to consider other belief system is completely wrong and they don’t accept any other beliefs because of the fear of unfamiliar. To begin with, each political or economic group have common goal and they have to have strict approach about some issues to achieve that. These kind of approach definitely consist of some prejudice against others. Each group member feel thinking like this on the contrary case my group lose competition they think out of group. Moreover, people may start to care about people who are like them. I mean that people may judge others because of their groups without any reason so they don’t care about issues which belongs others. For instance, an earthquake happened three months ago and many people sent many aid but some people did not sent because of some ridiculous reasons such as discrimination. They think that people who live in Van may support terrorist group and they did not deserve any aid. However, I think that anybody can think like this, there is one explanation to understand this situation and it is being a part of group. The conflict between their group and other groups prevent people from thinking logically and as a result of this they don’t send any aid materials for the victim of earthquake for this situation. I think that this kind of prejudice is very dangerous and it is very troublesome. People can not think freely until they leave group because if they resist group or reject to accept some group prejudices, they most probably face being out of group. Hence, prejudices which generate being a part of group are irrepressible. Prejudices does not depends on any logical reasons, they include dogmatical causes and people does not think whether it is true or not. People can behave differently in spite of under the some conditions toward two different people. This situation may conclude in a two different way. Firstly, people recede from one group. Therefore, people has negative attitude to this group. On the other hand, people get closer their own group. It may be seen a positive result of prejudice. If people feel belonging one group, they will start to love group members without any reason and they does not aware of group members’ mistakes. The while, sometimes they start to hate other people because any group members hate them. This enhance connection between group members but if we consider others, situation will vice versa. People start to think like other group members, they afraid to show thoughts when they think differently group members. Thus, it is starting to change the way people think. Prejudices cause sometimes behavioral changes. It is called discrimination. Problem start to be insoluble when people act. Behaviours return to habits and then free thinking start to get lost. As a resut of this, people are categorised us and others. Some people will be scapegoat because of the nature of categories and some people will be heroes because of same reason. For instance, many negroes are famous athletes and many famous athletes are national heroes; then many negroes are national heroes. It is ridiculous but it is a result of prejudice. Prejudices raise intolerant people and these people suppose that their all thoughts and beliefs correct. Hence, it is impossible to get rid of prejudices. Prejudices originate various reasons or factors and almost all people have some prejudices because getting rid of these is pretty difficult for people. ‘’Everyone is a prisoner of his own experiences. No one can eliminate prejudices – just recognize them’’ – Edward Roscoe Murrow. Actually it is important point to recognize them because many people does not aware of this during whole life. However, We can reduce the effects of prejudice but it is impossible to remove prejudice because of stereotypes, being a part of group member and the effects of prejudice on way of thinking and connection between people . It may only possible to live in island singly but I am not sure for this. WORK CITES BOOK ENTRY I don’t use any book. ARTICLE ENTRY. Cole, Jim. ‘’Understanding Prejudice’’. jimcole@beyondprejudice. com Gordon, W. Allport. ‘’The Cognitive Process’’ Massachusetts Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc. , 1991 WEB SOURCE ENTRY Pru, Laura. ‘’How Does a Bad Childhood Affect Relationships? (http://www. ehow. com/info_8621376_bad-childhood-affect-relationships. html) June 20, 2011. March,22 2012 Cheery, Kendra. Child Development Theories. (http://psychology. about. com/od/developmentalpsychology/a/childdevtheory. htm) March, 22 2012 FILM ENTRY I don’t use film source.