Why do people associate skin color with actions, behavior and intelligence?

Question

What does a physical feature have to do with a person's spirit?

Answer 1

Nothing, but physical attributes are the easiest ways to categorize people, as the eyes have first dibs on perspective.

The first things all people notice when they meet a new person is gender then race. Makes pefect sense. So of course if they're going to judge, they're going to judge on this persons gender or their race.

Humans are lazy and don't believe in taking the time to get to know one another before they judge, they judge first and ask questions later, that is if they ever decide to ask questions at all.

Not all people are like this, but I'm bold enough to say most are.

Answer 2

Hiya! Unfortunately in the USA many people ( studies has been done) think that color does determine a person's behavior, etc. They even had a topic on a talk show recently, people said that they usually associated darker skinned individuals as criminals, being poorer, etc, and lighter skinned people educated, trustworthy. That's all rubbish. Here in the states the majority of the serial killers seem to be white. So that clearly would contradict those stereotypes. Not trying to funny, but you have good and bad in every color or skin tone. Only stupid people believe in such rubbish stereotypes based on color alone. Peace ;)

Answer 3

Reason #1: Ignorance, prejudice, and stupidity.

Reason #2. Statistics. Unfortunately, due to the economic oppression put on blacks in the past, this has led to a greater degree of STATISTICAL association with crime, although I'm certain that a lot of it was racially motivated prosecutions in the past.

Reason #1 is no good, reason #2 is slowly changing over time. Tiger Woods is the #1 golfer in the world, Will Smith is now rated the most powerful actor in Hollywood, Colin Powell was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and a Secretary of Defense, and for the first time in history a black man, Barack Obama, has a serious chance at becoming the President of the United States. We have a long way to go, but we've come a long way, and things are much better than they used to be.

Answer 4

There is a very interesting book I read a couple of years ago by Jay Gould called. "The Mismeasure of Man". His main questions is if it is possible to measure human intelligence. He describes about methods that were used since the 19th century like the measurement of skulls. Through describing the history of measurement, he found as a fundamental problem the fact that measuring noses, lips, and many other physical characteristics as a associated to intelligence as "dangerous reflections of their (scientists) own personal motives and racial/class/sexual prejudices."

Sadly many still believed in these preconceptions

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the subject. Amazon. com says about it:

"This book examines the fatal flaws in intelligence testing and reaffirms the richness and variety of human potential. This book won the National Book Critics' Circle Award for 1982."

Answer 5

When a group, of any sort, choose to set themselves apart by dress, speech, ethics, religion, etc, the rest of society then identifies the group as a whole based on what they hear and see. Look at the Amish people. By their dress, society looks at them as dumb and uneducated. However, how many people today, could live without running water or electricity? How many people today could not only feed themselves, but build their own homes, grind their own wheat into flour or make their own soap? Stereo typing is a normal part of society. Does it make it right or wrong? No, it makes it a normal human reaction.

The color of one's skin is not a choice. The perceived actions of a group is a choice of the group. If a group is perceived as being lawless, then the group will be feared and distrusted. If a group is perceived as speaking a different language, for example Ebonics, then that group will be excluded the same way those who speak only Spanish or Chinese or Russian, in this English speaking country. If a group is perceived as being uneducated, because of high drop out rates, the entire group will be considered uneducated.

If a group wants to change perceptions of the whole, the group must work from within to make the changes that can be made.

Answer 6

Aaah. We must be talking about the coffee coloured hope!

There is a big difference in what you list and racism. It most certainly is not that.

Many colours/cultures have different ways and this does give people preconceptions.

Lots of black people are deeply into rap music and some people therefore expect that from them.

Lots of white Brits are deeply into drinking alcohol and there is therefore a preconception that they are drunkards.

What you seek appears to be blandness. Everyone to act, talk and behave the same. What a terrible world that would be.

I have visited over forty countries and lived in 7 of them. All cultures are different.

Skin colour does not really come into it when it comes down to personality and what you call spirit. The problem is just the same for white on white, yellow on yellow and any other colour you choose.

Spirit is a personal thing and therefore it is up to you to show it!!!

Answer 7

Like they say, "image is everything". People almost automatically associate dark skin color with the hip-hop or rap culture, for instance. We see rappers portrayed as dehumanizing, drug-fueled people whose sole motivation in life is to get paid and get laid, maybe shooting someone they don't like on the way to the bank. By association, a common conception is that people with dark skin embody these traits.

I'm not saying I agree with it, but that's pretty much why those associations happen. We see a group of people portrayed a specific way, and naturally begin to associate anyone that resembles that group with that same set of behaviors. Blame pop culture, if you're looking for a culprit.

Answer 8

People associate skin color, physical features, religion, culture, infirmities, etc with actions, behavior and intelligence because it's the easiest way for them to group people into categories so their minds can sift out "desirable" attributes from "undesirable" attributes. It's sad, really, that our species hasn't evolved enough mentally, emotionally or culturally to look at people for what they are...people. Until the "little green creatures" invade from Mars and pose a threat to ALL of humankind I, regretably, believe that we will still continue to place ourselves into groups based on what we look like/believe instead of coming together and making the world a better place. Just my $.02 worth.

Answer 9

First ?...It is unfortunate, but the way the basic human mgmt. systems are set up, people are grouped into areas foremost by monetary status, then ethnics. People are fairly happy being in communities of their own because it is comfortable...in America, many did this on their own coming from Ellis Island...it kept language barriers down, and folks tend to help their own before others.
However, part of the system is to distribute monies to these areas in the way of schooling, policing, housing, etc. And the higher scores in schooling wins, the least amount of police needed means higher salaries for them, and landlords seem to be hassled more to upkeep their buildings in nicer neighborhoods, among a zillion other things like septic mgmt., library access, food quality, medical access, transportation availabilities, and on & on goes the list.
Ergo, there has to be highmen & lowmen on the totem pole of any governing system as they are run today.
Now, when put into groups like the above, with the stresses of not having he necessary means of productivity and positive growth, you end up with a horde of frustrated peoples who need to vent...in comes crime, drugs & alcohol, blaming other factions...they no longer see themselves in the same boat, it becomes every man for themselves.
Now, be the outsider looking in...this is where stereotypes are created. See?

For the second ?...Physicality has absolutely nothing to do with spirit. You can surely look around you and see others who have overcome physical challenges, whether of their person or their environment, to let their spirit shine...these are folks who make a difference to many on their way.
Good Journey to you, too, Love!

Answer 10

It is all a matter of Pride. But don't worry, people who do associate skin color with action, behavior and intelligence will suffer one day so much that they will remember their own stupidity.
Pride leads one to hell. These idiots will day perish like dusts. They also associate religion for all these aspects.