The nineteenth century English author Charles Lamb admitted "I am, in plainer words, a bundle of prejudices, made up of likings and dislikings, the veriest thrall of sympathies, apathies, and antipathies." Mark Twain, however, claimed that he was completely unprejudiced: "I have no race prejudices, and I think I have no color prejudices nor creed prejudices. Indeed, I know it. I can stand any society."

What is prejudice? Experts do not agree on how to best define the term, but prejudices are, above all else, attitudes, and so prejudices actuate individuals' feelings, thoughts, and actions.

1. The affective component of prejudice is characterized by emotions that range from mild nervousness to outright hatred. Such statements as "I hate Whites," "Allowing gays in the Army makes me angry," "Blacks frighten me," and "I can't stand pushy women" all illustrate the emotion in our prejudice. Indeed, our strongest negative emotions are often reserved for groups rather than individuals. As Gordon W. Allport (1954, pp. 340-341) noted in his classic treatise titled The nature of prejudice, "anger is customarily felt toward individuals only, whereas hatred may be felt toward whole classes of people."

2. Prejudice also includes a cognitive component: assumptions and beliefs about the members of other groups. These cognitions can be as inaccurate as our emotions are ardent, but we feel that these beliefs are supported by facts and objective observations. An American citizen who is prejudiced against Russians, for example, may assume that they deserve this rejection since they are untrustworthy, aggressive, and unintelligent. A racist Anglo may believe that Hispanics are lazy. Such overgeneralizations about the members of other social groups are stereotypes. Stereotypes are cognitive schemas, so they can systematically influence our perceptions and memories. It is important to note here that stereotypes are automatic and unconscious, therefore it is difficult to understand exactly why people develop stereotypes or how to go about eliminating the stereotypes from people's minds. A possible explanation for why people depend on stereotypes so easily and heavily is because it is simple and a quick way to categorize people without doing the work to actually know what defines a person or group (Miller, 128; What's in a Category?: Responsibility, Intent, and the Avoidability of Bias against Outgroups, Susan T. Fiske ). Recent research has located this quick responsive form of thinking to the amygdala, which is a part of the brain. The fact that it is a response that possibly originates in the brain, the implications are that we can not consciously control it and that it is an innate, primitive mechanism that humans have developed.

3. Discrimination constitutes the behavioral component of prejudice. A sexist man, for example, may quit his job when he is transferred to a department managed by a woman. A prejudiced Black may discriminate against Whites by treating them unfairly. The behavioral component of an attitude, however, also includes predispositions to respond in certain ways. A white person who is prejudiced against African Americans could plan to live in segregated housing areas and decide to vote for only white candidates in all elections (Varying views on the definition of prejudice are offered by Ashmore & DelBoca, 1981; Brewer & Kramer, 1985; Duckitt, 1992; Simpson & Yinger, 1985.)

Prejudice can be directed at virtually any one of the enumerable groups that make up our heterogeneous society. Even today Catholics, Jews, Muslims, and other religious groups are persecuted for their beliefs. Those who adopt alternative lifestyles, such as gays and lesbians, are often the victims of prejudice-motivated violence: so-called hate crimes or bias crimes. People who are physically challenged are viewed in stereotypical ways that are both demeaning and unfair. Hispanics, Asians, native Americans, and other ethnic and racial groups experience systematic persecution because they are different from others. All of these forms of prejudice call out for close study.


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