Stereotypes, Prejudice and Discrimination

Introduction

In our daily lives, we constantly encounter people from different backgrounds. To make sense of this complex social world, our brains often use mental shortcuts. However, these shortcuts can lead to stereotypes, which in turn can fuel prejudice and result in discrimination. These three concepts—stereotype, prejudice, and discrimination—describe a sequence from thought to feeling to action that can lead to profound social injustice and inequality. Understanding how they work is the first step towards creating a more fair and inclusive society.

Learning objectives

After reading this article, you should be able to:

• Define and clearly differentiate between stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination.
• Explain the psychological reasons why people form stereotypes.
• Provide examples of discrimination based on various group memberships, such as age, gender, or disability.
• Understand the concept of unconscious bias and how it influences our behaviour.
• Identify strategies for reducing prejudice and combating discrimination.

Stereotypes: The Mental Shortcuts

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