Sociology, race, and ethnicity all have a strong tie within each other as they each affect and impact social life around the world every day and differently for each individual from place to place. Something that sociology focuses on regarding race and ethnicity is how it changes the ways that social, political, economic relations and interact with one another. Racism comes in many different forms and aspects as it all affects people differently, while some are more drastic than others. From the text “The Real World: An Introduction to Sociology” by definition states that prejudice is “an idea about the characteristics of a group that is applied to all members of the group and is unlikely to change regardless of the evidence against it” (Ferris, Stein 2018). This relates to stereotypes and the typical idea of a group that is rooted in generalizations. The textbook uses examples such as “all Mexicans are lazy” and “all Irish are drunks” (Ferris, Stein 2018). Typically, prejudices are negative in a way that portrays such group as something people don’t want to be or are embarrassed to be affiliated with. Most times, prejudices are set ideas and are generally hard to avoid and move away from as it is extremely common to believe something about a certain group after hearing it from your society as “we are socialized into the values and norms of society, we may unknowingly pick up some type of prejudice acts” (Ferris, Stein 2018).
From Simply Psychology, Saul McLeod states, “Prejudice is an unjustified or incorrect attitude (usually negative) towards an individual based solely on the individual’s membership of a social group” (Ferris, Stein 2018). This idea and acts are common to fall into discrimination against a race, gender, religion, social class, etc. which by definition is “unequal treatment of individuals based on their membership in a social group: usually motivated by prejudice” (Ferris, Stein 2018). It is not at all times however, but a person may not act on their attitude, therefore, can be prejudiced but not discriminate against them. As McLeod explains in his article, “prejudice includes all three components of an attitude, effective, behavioral, and cognitive while discrimination” (McLeod 2008). He goes on to explain the four main explanations behind the acts of prejudice and discrimination which are an authoritarian personality who are people who tend to be hostile to those who are of inferior status, but obedient to people with high status, fairly rigid in their own opinions and beliefs, and conventional, upholding traditional values. Realistic conflict theory which refers to “a Marxist-based social theory which argues that individuals and groups within society have differing amounts of material and non-material resources and that the more powerful groups use their power in order to exploit groups with less power” (Definitions). He also talks about stereotyping and social identity. It is common to be strongly influenced by society and their peers as they tie in with social norms and behaviors.
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