Describe the relationship between types of behavior that can come from prejudice

Hi Brittany,

Prejudice is the emotional component of attitudes toward social groups. As such, prejudice is the emotion and reflects the feelings we experience based only on another’s membership in a particular group. As such, all prejudices reflect some negative underlying emotions. Although they are very similar, prejudices based on different emotions can be discriminated based on the behaviors they lead to. Prejudice based on anger may lead to direct attempts to harm the out-group. Prejudice based on guilt may lead to efforts to avoid the out-group because of the emotional distress caused by the out-group’s situation. Prejudice based on disgust may also lead to efforts to avoid the out-group in order to avoid possible ‘contamination’ by members of the out-group. Prejudice based on fear or envy may lead to defensive behaviors that are intended to protect the in-group’s status or position.