Prejudice Defined :: Definition Essays

Prejudice Defined Each citizen within the American society has his own definition of the word prejudice. A person's translation of the word dictates his response to other people's prejudices. One interpretation of it could be a feeling of partiality resulting from a prejudgment that influences a person's thoughts, mindset, and behavior. Today's society usually associates negative connotations with the word prejudice. This is why the average American cringes or switches to self-defense mode when he hears the word uttered. However, prejudices do not have to be negative. For example, a prejudice, or prejudgment, can be made on a particular activity or location to determine whether or not a person places himself/herself there. A person's prejudice could help to keep them out of a harmful or even dangerous situation. The fact that a person has preconceived ideas, or prejudices, toward a particular setting or environment does not make the ideas negative. Therefore, those with a positive view need to reclaim the word from those with negative mindsets. Unfortunately, the most common association of the word prejudice is the feelings of hatred between whites and blacks. Prejudices have driven individual people groups to look down upon and mistreat other people groups because they are different. This interpretation of the word is wrong. Not only are individuals hurt, but society as a whole experiences a wave of disunity and ill feelings among the citizens. This demonstrates how prejudices can impact people's behavior and interaction with one another. Clearly, prejudices, or biases, need to become associated with positive, or harmless, feelings and emotions. Society needs to see that the word prejudice in and of itself is not negative; it is Prejudice Defined :: Definition Essays Prejudice Defined Each citizen within the American society has his own definition of the word prejudice. A person's translation of the word dictates his response to other people's prejudices. One interpretation of it could be a feeling of partiality resulting from a prejudgment that influences a person's thoughts, mindset, and behavior. Today's society usually associates negative connotations with the word prejudice. This is why the average American cringes or switches to self-defense mode when he hears the word uttered. However, prejudices do not have to be negative. For example, a prejudice, or prejudgment, can be made on a particular activity or location to determine whether or not a person places himself/herself there. A person's prejudice could help to keep them out of a harmful or even dangerous situation. The fact that a person has preconceived ideas, or prejudices, toward a particular setting or environment does not make the ideas negative. Therefore, those with a positive view need to reclaim the word from those with negative mindsets. Unfortunately, the most common association of the word prejudice is the feelings of hatred between whites and blacks. Prejudices have driven individual people groups to look down upon and mistreat other people groups because they are different. This interpretation of the word is wrong. Not only are individuals hurt, but society as a whole experiences a wave of disunity and ill feelings among the citizens. This demonstrates how prejudices can impact people's behavior and interaction with one another. Clearly, prejudices, or biases, need to become associated with positive, or harmless, feelings and emotions. Society needs to see that the word prejudice in and of itself is not negative; it is