Why do most sociologists believe that social factors play a more ...

[scienceeasy]

Why do most sociologists believe that social factors play a more important role in the perpetuation of prejudice and discrimination than psychological sources?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Why is there a controversy over the use of the term race as a biological concept to identify a population that differs from others in terms of certain key genetic, hereditary traits?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[dominiqueenicolee]

Answer to Question 1

The sources of prejudice and discrimination are complex, resulting from the intertwining of numerous sociological and psychological factors. Most sociologists hold that social factors such as ethnocentrism, competition, socialization, and institutionalized discrimination play the most important roles in that these set the stage for the operation of psychological mechanisms. Without this social underpinning, prejudice and discrimination resulting from the psychological mechanisms alone would likely be sporadic and unorganized.

Answer to Question 2

There is much controversy among anthropologists and biologists over whether there are any traits unique to particular races in the world today. Certainly some traits are more common in some races than others. But with extensive interbreeding among the racial groups throughout human history, genetic traits and characteristics have tended to spread around the world. Hence, the biological reality of race is considered to be hazy.