Answer to Question 1
a
Answer to Question 2
The earliest research on prejudice and discrimination was conducted by psychologists. The presence of racism was dismissed as an expression of a personality disorder. Psychological approaches have been criticized for overlooking the context that gives shape to the beliefs and behaviors that underlie racism. These approaches also view racism as an abnormal condition when, in fact, large numbers of Americans throughout history have expressed racist thoughts and beliefs.
Sociologists feel that normative theories best explain the presence of racism. These theories posit that people learn the norms that operate in society at large. They consider the types of situations that encourage or give rise to prejudicial beliefs or discriminatory acts. Norms are seen early in people's development, in play patterns in children, when choosing partners for games.