Social psychology-stereotype, prejudice, discrimination - Term Paper Example

Prejudice and discrimination Affiliation: Prejudice is common in work settings where there are certain differences between workers. This happens because of the preconceptions the locals have towards the foreigners and which then leads them to discriminate against them in service delivery. The discrimination is generalized to the whole group of foreigners and this leads to formation of a stereotype. There are several theories which have been used to explain the reason for the above to happen. One of the theories discussed in relation to discrimination is the social learning theory which says our socialization process contributes to the discrimination (Akers and Jensen 2007).

I found this to be true and especially because of the influence from our peers to stereotype the foreigners and not offer the same service to them as we do to the locals.Competition between groups over the few resources available may lead to prejudice. This is true because the foreigners get employment in places where the locals used to work and this leads the locals to have preconceived notion that the foreigners are a competition and hence discriminate them in other areas. This is supported by the realistic group conflict theory (Chadee 2011).

Social categorization involves segregating people according to their shared characteristics and this causes discrimination and eventually development of a stereotype (Sanderson 2009). The locals have segregated themselves from the foreigners because they see them as having different characteristics from them. This therefore has led to the foreigners to be discriminated against and stereotyped as social outcasts due to belonging to the out group.Analyzing the prejudice, discrimination and stereotypes accorded to the foreigners on the basis of the theories has made me understand more the causes of such issues and how individuals can reverse those negative judgments.

Our socialization process has to be changed.ReferencesAkers, R. and Jensen, G. (2007). Social Learning Theory and the Explanation of Crime. Massachusetts: Transaction Publishers.Chadee, D. (2011). Theories in Social Psychology. California: John Wiley & Sons.Cordell, K. and Wolff, S. (2010). Ethnic conflict: causes, consequences, responses. Pennsylvania: Polity.Crisp, R. and Hewstone, M. (2009). Multiple social categorization: processes, models and applications. Washington: Psychology Press.

Sanderson, A. (2009). Social Psychology. California: John Wiley & Sons.Taylor, S., Peplau, A. and Sears, D. (2005). Social psychology. New York: Pearson/Prentice Hall.Whitley, B. and Kite, M. (2009). The Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination. New York: Cengage Learning.