My girlfriend and I moved to a new apartment, but several neighbors look at us badly and say derogatory, sometimes violent things to us. We are already somewhat used to it, but why are there people who do not accept the differences?
(Catherine Cangi, of Hills of the Viewpoint)
Prejudging is the resource by which we form an idea or opinion about something or someone. based on previously established conceptswithout a rational foundation to support them.
These opinions are called prejudices, and they can have a great effect on our lifesince they influence decision-making, behavior and the choices made.
Etymologically, the word “prejudice” comes from Latin prejudice and means “prior judgment, premature decision.”
Evolutionary psychology suggests that prejudice may have arisen as a survival strategyallowing groups to identify and protect themselves from possible threats from different others.
Today, in modern society, they have become an obstacle to coexistence and equality.
Prejudices are part of unconscious mental processes that subjectively modify the ability to perceive reality. An example of this is when an evaluation is made positive or negative for belonging to a race and not for the individual in particular (racism), having feelings of aversion and distrust depending on cultural origin (xenophobia) or disparaging evaluations towards homosexual people (homophobia).
From the psychodynamic point of view, it is considered a “defense mechanism” that operates unconsciously, channeling the tensions that arise between the personality and the external worldgenerally towards different or minority individuals who function as scapegoats (blacks, poor, foreigners).
Human beings from childhood learn to pigeonhole people and recognize the differences between men and women; young and old; white, black or oriental; Catholic, Jewish or Muslim.
This typecasting is usually associated with personal assessments that determine a value judgment that can be generalized prematurely and incorrectly. For example: “Older people don’t know how to use smartphones or computers”; “Women are dangerous driving.”
Unlike reasoning, prejudices have their roots in the emotional from which they arise and are reinforced. unfounded ideas which, in general, have little or nothing to do with real life.
A key aspect is that they are automatic, unconscious and subjective, based on little or erroneous information, but almost always with the predominance of negative connotations. For example: “He doesn’t inspire confidence in me because he is a gypsy.”
Prejudice causes multiple consequences in interpersonal relationships, and both in who emits the prejudice and in who receives it.
Prejudiced people usually have discriminatory attitudes that cause serious consequences in coexistence and can even use violence and aggression towards others.
On the contrary, less prejudiced individuals have an easier time relating to different people and generating healthier bondssince it allows them to have good relationships regardless of the other’s characteristics, they can enjoy the differences more and enrich themselves with the incorporation of different knowledge and values.
Albert Einstein stated: “It is easier to disintegrate an atom than a prejudice.”
