Prejudice and In-Group and Out-Group Bias

Introduction

Prejudice is a complex problem of our society. It cannot be characterized placed into certain class as it has various complications and lasting effects. However, it is apparent that the ethical values generated the social concern which in turn has to be handled through the means of politics. The affections and thoughts of humans are not possible to legislate. The prejudice and hate due to racism, within the hearts of the people cannot be halted of eliminated by certain laws, rules or regulations. The only possible way is to spread awareness about this issue and teach people to control such hatred. If a law states that, in United States, or anywhere in the world, individuals will not be refused employment on the basis of ethnicity and race then the organizations should follow it (Cross, pp. 66). However, in reality, the organizations across America, even in some other countries, an individual is rigorously evaluated and the cunning employers know all the possible tricks to reject those individuals who do not have the certain 'look.' Exactly the same issue exists in homeowners, buildings, landlords, shops etc in which the people block 'different' individuals from coming to their area or interacting with them.

Prejudice and In-Group and Out-Group Bias

Although social scientists have often disputes over the precise definition of "prejudice", most would agree to say that this implies an a priori judgment, often negative, group or its members (Ehrlich & Feldman, pp. 45). The use of the term "bias" in psychology does not refer only to the expression of an opinion or belief but an attitude that includes feelings of contempt, revulsion or disgust. A major source of inequality is discrimination. According to Cesar Rodriguez , in his text entitled The right to equality, "income, social class and race, factors such as gender, ethnicity, nationality, religious affiliation or political ideology" give rise to forms for discrimination. Certain minority groups are not "effectively incorporated" in society. These groups are discriminated and are in a position of "perpetual subordination" (a term borrowed from law and disadvantaged groups Gargarella), which is reflected in the economy (lower classes) in the policy (these groups are not represented policy) and social life. Such discrimination is most evident, as is seen in the everyday, such as the violence between gangs racial physics occurring in the United States or Europe.

A close relative of assimilation is the "phenomenon of out-group homogeneity." In the jargon of social psychology, an "in-group" is a group to which an individual belongs and an "out-group" is a group to which the person does not belong (ie, the in-group can be an individual of the out-group someone else and vice versa). Research on the phenomenon of out-group homogeneity showed that people see the attitudes, values, personality traits and other characteristics of members of out-group as more similar than those of members of the in-group. It follows that members of an out-group are more likely to be perceived as interchangeable and easily replaceable, and they ...