what do you believe is the main cause of stereotypes and prejudice?

Question

would you say ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender?

Answer 1

none of the above.....

ignorance

Answer 2

hey!! ask more questions so i can answer them, its not fair, your answering all of mine!! =o)
so yeah to answer this, I think alot of it has to do with your childhood because thats a crucial time in life when your mind absorbs everything you see and hear, and most of the time, that stuff stays with you well into adulthood. So the way your raised, your childhood experiences and what you were taught or learned etc. Being prejudice usually stems from insecurities. Stereotyping others stems from ignorance, and steroetypes are created, i think, when a small group of people do something, which ends up representing a whole. For ex. When a small group of Muslims caused what happened on 9/11, ignorant people ended up stereotyping all Muslims out to be terrorists. Im kinda rambling here...

Answer 3

I think everything you mentioned will lead to stereotypes. It's when you mix them with ignorance that you get bad thoughts, feelings, and prejudices. Humans are obsessed with categorizing everything into this or that group, it's sub-groups, and cousin groups etc. I think it's natural to us, because people are different. No matter what "group/category" , it's all just branches on the same tree. I agree with enlightened... that sometimes prejudice is taught. People have to take responsibility for their own ideas at some point though. It can be un-taught.

Answer 4

Most start with a bit of truth. As awful as that is, I believe it to be true. But that doesn't make any of them right. Almost all stereotypes and prejudices would disappear if they didn't get reaffirmed form time to time. So they begin with a certain incident and then society, or just elements of a society take them to be true. The story spreads and then people unconsciously look for that type of behavior. Also, who here doesn't have one friend or loved one that completely lives up to a stereotype.

Answer 5

For some it isn't any of what you have written. When I do not relate to a person, any person, I've not found common ground. Were there is no communication there is no understanding. This can cause you to stereotype. Being prejudice is caused by society.

Answer 6

I was just about to say the exact thing as the first poster, ignorance is the cause, the choices you have listed have nothing to do with stereotypes or prejudice.

These things are passed down from generation to generation. People aren't born racist, it is taught!

Answer 7

It is fairly common for humans to engage in "differential thinking" where I would notice what makes you different from me. It is far more difficult to notice what we have in common.

Any differences between us in these areas first begin with the how we conceptualize and how we notice differences. This is common to the species and not unique to any particular group that you have mentioned.

Stereotypes and prejudice are generally supported in the environment in some way.

Answer 8

Stereotyping is an efficient way of making a judgment about somebody using past experience, anecdotal evidence or statistical facts. Its efficient because it takes little time and is often accurate.
It may be unsavoury but its human nature (i.e. it has evolutionary roots)

Answer 9

It is plain and simple- ignorance. There is an old adage that "Ignorance is bliss". However, ignorance is the LACK of knowledge and/or information. And knowledge is what we all seek, on one level or another.
Bliss is to seek and keep learning. Bliss is to have the ability not to agree with another, but to understand that every ones opinion is valued, even if we do not think it is valid.

Answer 10

I believe that most prejudice is the way you are brought up. Children learn from listening to their elders.

Answer 11

the main cause of stereotypes is because 90 percent of the time its true!