Author Question: Describe the following causes of racial discrimination and oppression in the society: projection, ... (Read 58 times)

audie

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 532
Describe the following causes of racial discrimination and oppression in the society: projection, authoritarianism, and socialization patterns.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

The Truman era was profoundly conservative but despite this pressure, President Truman successfully implemented the following social reform:
 
  A) federal aid to public education
  B) national health insurance
  C) desegregating the armed forces
  D) all of the above



cam1229

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 329
Answer to Question 1

No single theory provides a complete picture of why racial discrimination and oppression occur. The sources of discrimination are both internal and external to those who are prejudiced. Some of the causes of racial discrimination and oppression in the society are as follows:
Projection: It is a psychological defense mechanism by which people attribute to others characteristics that they are unwilling to recognize in themselves. Many people have personal traits they dislike. They have an understandable desire to get rid of such traits, but this is not always possible. These people may then project some of these traits onto others (often to some other group in society), thus displacing the negative feelings they would otherwise direct at themselves. In the process, they reject and condemn those onto whom they have projected the traits.
Authoritarianism: One of the classic works on the causes of prejudice is The Authoritarian Personality, by T. W. Adorno et al. Shortly after World War II, these researchers studied the psychological causes of the development of European fascism and concluded that there was a distinct type of personality associated with prejudice and intolerance. The authoritarian personality is inflexible and rigid and has a low tolerance for uncertainty, has a great respect for authority figures and quickly submits to their will, and highly values conventional behavior while feeling threatened by unconventional behavior in others. To reduce this threat, this personality type labels unconventional people as immature, inferior, or degenerate and thereby avoids any need to question his or her own beliefs and values. The authoritarian personality views members of minority groups as unconventional, degrades them, and expresses authoritarianism through prejudice and discrimination.
Socialization patterns: Prejudice is also a learned phenomenon, transmitted from generation to generation through socialization processes. Our culture has stereotypes of what different racial group members ought to be and how they ought to behave in relationships with members of certain outgroups. These stereotypes provide norms against which a child learns to judge people, things, and ideas. Prejudice, to some extent, is developed through the same processes by which we learn to be religious and patriotic, to appreciate and enjoy art, or to develop our value system. Racial prejudice, at least in certain segments in our society, is thus a facet of the normative system of our culture.

Answer to Question 2

C



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
 

Did you know?

The most destructive flu epidemic of all times in recorded history occurred in 1918, with approximately 20 million deaths worldwide.

Did you know?

Though the United States has largely rejected the metric system, it is used for currency, as in 100 pennies = 1 dollar. Previously, the British currency system was used, with measurements such as 12 pence to the shilling, and 20 shillings to the pound.

Did you know?

About 100 new prescription or over-the-counter drugs come into the U.S. market every year.

Did you know?

ACTH levels are normally highest in the early morning (between 6 and 8 A.M.) and lowest in the evening (between 6 and 11 P.M.). Therefore, a doctor who suspects abnormal levels looks for low ACTH in the morning and high ACTH in the evening.

Did you know?

Carbamazepine can interfere with the results of home pregnancy tests. If you are taking carbamazepine, do not try to test for pregnancy at home.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library