THE PREJUDICE THAT LEADS TO CONFLICTS

The terms stereotyping, prejudice and racism are so frequently used that distinctions can be lost. Stereotype is most commonly used to refer to negative or positive judgments made about individuals on any observable or believed group membership. Prejudice is irrational suspicion or hatred of a particular group while racism is prejudice with the exercise of power over the group through institutional, historical and structural means.

Research shows it is the feeling of threat that results in prejudice. Such feelings can be realistic, symbolic, cause intergroup anxiety and inspire negative stereotypes. Realistic threats are intimidating to the power and material well-being of a dominant group. Symbolic threats refers to feelings that the dominant group’s way of life are in peril. Intergroup anxiety occurs when people feel personally threatened during interactions. And negative stereotypes refers to the dominant group’s unfavorable assumptions that determine their interactions with other group members. The research make it clear that the threat does not need to be real to lead a dominant cultural group to express prejudice toward a minority.

So, the critical question is what is the source of that perceived threat. Recently, researchers surveyed 274 U.S. born individuals during the Covid-19 pandemic. Their analysis showed that the more one believed their preferred daily social media to be fair, accurate, and factual, the more like they were to believe Chinese Americans pose a realist and symbolic threat.

Their analysis revealed a gender difference. Women were more likely to believe Chinese Americans have a negative influence on their welfare, political and economic power, and physical and material well-being. Men felt more awkward, irritated, suspicious, anxious, defensive and self-conscious when communicating with Chinese Americans.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, social media was a platform to communicate prejudice. Opinions shared by political leaders and celebrities were deemed by some as fact and led to perceived threat resulting, in some instances, prejudiced behavior. The researchers compared political leaders’ and celebrities’ for their opinions as well as unrestricted social media and uncritical consumers of social media.

Their conclusion? Uncritical social media use can result in prejudice.