Social orientation. People with limited vision often

Social orientation. People with limited vision often

Social Biases George T. Jackson Psych/555 Social Psychology October 24, 2011 Diana Dobier Social Biases A social bias is a prejudice attitude aimed at a particular race, culture, ethnic group, religion, or sexual orientation. People with limited vision often form negative opinions toward a group of people without knowing who they are. People have to be careful with the thought process because it can lead him or her to make a judgmental statement toward an individual, or a group of individuals, without the person realizing that the statement or comment was prejudicial.

In this paper the concept of social biases, a definition of the concept of prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination shall be provided. An explanation of the differences between subtle and blatant biases, a brief description of the impact of biases on the lives of individuals, and finally two strategies that an individual can use to overcome social biases will be discussed. Concept of Social Biases Social biases are very harmful to any group of people because it instills hatred and fear.

Causing individuals to act out and treat anyone different from him or her in a negative and condescending manner.Social biases have been around for many years, and will continue to exist as long as there are individuals who remain fearful and refuse to let down his or her guards long enough to embrace the difference races, cultures, and ethnic groups. Concept of Prejudice, Stereotyping, and Discrimination Prejudice is an attitude or a belief directed toward an individual or group of individuals who are different. Prejudice entails an emotional reaction toward a group of individuals on the basis of a person’s feelings about a particular group, (Fiske, 2010).Example during slavery African Americans were not allowed to read and write because the Caucasians believed they were smart enough to comprehend anything other than doing manual labor. Stereotyping is the generalization about others, which leads to a predictable characteristic of other people.

Stereotypes only represent one aspect of an individual that is usually the negative aspect. Stereotypes also cause an individual to make a harsh statement toward individuals without recognizing the damage those words can cause.Example someone who accuses Middle Eastern men to be terrorists has made a negative stereotype against these people, when every Middle Eastern men are not terrorists. Discrimination is the ill treatment or denying of some ones rights because of his or her race, creed, color, sexual orientation, disability, and ethnic background. Fiske, (2010) “discrimination entails acting on the basis of one’s stereotypes, and prejudices denying, equality of treatment that people wish to have.

” Discrimination wears many faces and can take on different forms that can be overt and subtle.This behavior can be very hurtful to various groups, organizations, and individuals. Example A person is denied housing because he is an openly gay individual. Subtle and Blatant Bias Any individual on any given day can display subtle biases; these biases are generally automatic, meaning they are done in a manner that can be unbeknownst to the individual who has acted upon them. Subtle biases bring discrimination to the surface while exposing the true nature of certain individuals.

Examples Mexicans drink a lot, have babies, and take jobs away from us, I really hate Mexicans.Blatant biases are more aggressive acts toward an individual or a group of individuals, such as hate crimes against African Americans, Asians, Middle Eastern, and homosexuals. Blatant bias is a result of direct conflict over tangible resources (Fiske, 2010). When an individual displays blatant biases he, or she is favoring one group over another, by causing physical, mental, and emotional pain on the target of his or her discontent. Impact of Bias on the Lives of Individuals Biases can have either a negative or positive impact in the lives of people.

When an individual is told that he or she will never amount to anything or that he or she will never be able to escape the pains of the past, then he or she can use those negative remarks as the motivating factor to rise above his or her situation. By becoming the very thing people said he or she will never become. People often use labels, categories, and stereotypes, when defining others. People have made inappropriate jokes, negative comments about other individuals and try to justify the behavior, by saying, “I mean no disrespect, or I am not trying to offend anyone. When they have offended someone, and disrespected themselves by making the statement.

Biases happen too often and assumptions about individuals, or a group of individuals by people who have limited knowledge about the ethnic group or the cultural background. Another way that biases can impact an individual’s life is by destroying his or her self-esteem. Example a child is overweight and he, or she is constantly teased, this can cause the child to be uncomfortable, and eventually he r she will become withdrawn and slip into a state of depression.When negative words and racial slurs are thrown around so liberally, they cause a sense of mistrust and uncomfortably for the individuals being mistreated, and misrepresented by the way, society sees them (Fiske, 2010). Strategies to Overcome Social Biases One strategy that can be used to help people overcome social biases is education. People should be educated in the areas of ethnic and cultural diversities. Once an individual is made aware that most cultures and ethnicities share more similarities than differences, there will be less biases and more celebration of the cultures within society.

The only way an individual can understand the plight, and struggle that other cultures and ethnic groups experience is by understanding who those individuals are. Another strategy that can be used to overcome social biases is a coming together of the classes, meaning people of wealth and substance should take the opportunity to see how people with limited resources can survive. A wealthy man decided he would show his son how poor people had to live. So he and his son went to stay with his poor brother.When they arrived at his brothers house the wealthy man took his son all around the community and the poor people were working in their fields, plowing, and doing their daily chores. When it was time to go to bed the poor man and his wife gave up their bedroom for his brother and his son slept in the room with his five cousins.

The next morning at breakfast everybody helped to set the table, make the food, wash dishes and went off and did their chores. The wealthy man and his son left to go home while riding home the wealthy man asked his son do see how the poor live.His son said yes, they know how to share, and everybody takes turns helping one another, and they have a slumber party every night. The boy went on to say I wish were poor, then you and mother would not argue as much, and we could sit down and have meals together like a family. The wealthy man was shocked because his son saw that being wealthy meant more than possessing money. Conclusion Social biases have the potential to rob people from experiencing life on a new level.

People will take their negative comments, and prejudices out on any individual or group of individuals who are different from him or her.Social biases are always aimed at ethnic groups, cultures, religions, sexes, and anyone who does not fit into societal norms. In this paper the concept of social biases was analyzed, along with the definition of prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination was discussed. An explanation of the difference between subtle and blatant biases, a description of the impact that biases can have on the lives of individuals, along with two strategies that an individual can use to overcome social biases were provided. References Fiske, S. T.

, (2010) Social beings: Core motives in social psychology (2nd ed. ). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley and Sons