How Does the Term Prejudice Differ from Discrimination

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The Answer is Prejudice and discrimination are related concepts, but they refer to different aspects of biased behavior and attitudes.

Prejudice is a preconceived opinion or judgment about an individual or group that is not based on reason or actual experience. It is an attitude that is often rooted in stereotypes and can be positive or negative, though it is most commonly discussed in the context of negative biases. Prejudice involves prejudging people based on characteristics such as race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other distinguishing attribute. It is an internal cognitive and emotional process that affects how individuals perceive and think about others.

Discrimination, on the other hand, refers to the actions or behaviors that result from prejudiced attitudes. It involves treating people unfairly or unequally because of their membership in a particular group. Discrimination can manifest in various forms, such as exclusion, avoidance, verbal abuse, or denial of opportunities or services. It can occur at an individual level (interpersonal discrimination) or be institutionalized in policies and practices of organizations and systems (institutional discrimination).

In summary, prejudice is an attitude or prejudgment about individuals or groups, often based on stereotypes and not on factual evidence. Discrimination is the behavior that arises from prejudiced attitudes, leading to unfair treatment of people based on their perceived group membership. While prejudice can exist without leading to overt discrimination, discrimination is the tangible outcome of prejudiced attitudes when they are acted upon.

How Does the Term Prejudice Differ from Discrimination

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