Controversies of Psych

Question 1

What is stigma?

What influences it?

Answer 1

Stigma “is a social construction that devalues people due to a distinguishing characteristic or mark”

• Attitudes develop early in childhood
• Stable over many years
• Influenced by personal experience
• Older males, less education are most stigmatised.
• Tolerance depends on closeness of interaction

Question 2

What is discrimination?

Answer 2

Discrimination “is the actual behavior towards another group. It involves excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to other groups”

Question 3

What is prejudice?

Answer 3

Prejudice “is a prejudgment: i.e. an assumption made about someone or something before having adequate knowledge to be able to do so with guaranteed accuracy”