Racism is a belief that a particular race has specific traits that distinguish it from others, especially in a way that makes the race superior. Racism can be either dominative, where one practices it intentionally; or aversive, when one unintentionally expresses it. Institutional racism, on the other hand, involves the sustenance of racial disparity through customary practices such as the Jim Crow practice and the belief that supported this culture. Even though Jim Crow was abolished, institutional discrimination is still witnessed in educational and political platforms. Cultural racism, moreover, refers to myths and misconceptions that grant one race power over another. General behavior, characters, social organization, and cultural expression are used to establish cultural racism. For example, the belief in white supremacy as reflected by President Lincoln has been passed on to generations and is reflected in the daily practices of the Native Americans (Von et al., 2014). Racism as a social problem has adverse and, in many cases, irreversible effects.
Reasons for Selection of the Social Problem
The study of racism is important as it helps understand discrimination, stereotypes, and prejudice. Stereotyping, for example, is based on beliefs possessed by individuals regarding a certain group of people and their behavior. As a cognitive factor, it exists as both an individual and social problem. The effects can be both positive and negative. Positive effects, for example, may be revealed in the belief that blacks are athletic while negative effects can be realized in believing that blacks are violent. On the other hand, prejudice deals with the emotional aspect of racism. Unlike stereotyping, relating with the prejudiced group can reduce prejudice. Discrimination, on the other hand, is the behavioral aspect of racism. Through discrimination, an individual often reflects a deepened version of both prejudice and stereotyping (Devine, 2014).
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As a social problem, the effects of racism are seen down generations since they are usually culturally justified. For example, the racial prejudice faced by black children have them growing with damaged self- worth and poor self- esteem. Consequently, prejudiced-against children grow up having self- protective guards while some develop mechanisms that boost their resistance. In addition, once stereotypes and prejudices are formed, it is easier to influence another. The social-constructive aspect of racism is viewed in racial categorization. The condition occurs when individuals are named due to the shade of their skin. Interestingly, even African Americans group themselves as dark skins and light skins. Social categorization is the basis for growing prejudice and stereotyping. In psychology, these kinds of reactions towards another race are fostered by feelings of fear and threat. Notably, feelings of fear develop from differences that are perceived to exist and the related anxiety.
The effects of racism are faced at the individual level as well as social, economic, and political areas as explained by Bem (2013). For example, the economic effects of racism can be witnessed when blacks are paid lower wages than whites or when they are denied certain jobs. The belief that black people are lazy and do not follow work ethics is an example of racial stereotyping in this case. Political effects of racism can be seen during fragmentation, such as in political actions like voting or holding a political position. A social effect of racism, on the other hand, can be witnessed during segregation of races, leading to ignorance in individuals. Segregation, for instance, can be witnessed in social places such as in religious gatherings. Unfortunately, racism can, therefore, lead to the provision of low-quality services such as in the education sector (Where segregation, for instance, may lead to certain schools being denied the best resources). At a personal level, racism can be due to cultivated ignorance and fear, which may result in a lack of personal growth.
Stereotyping as a racist approach may be practiced by an individual who would like to feel better about themselves. Also, it makes those of similar negative thoughts and beliefs relate and connect. Prejudice, on the other hand, has different cognitive sources as explained by Rothbart and Oliver (2015). For example, social categorization and similarities and differences as perceived by the larger percentage of individuals may lead to prejudice. In other instances, prejudice can be caused by distinctive stimuli as well as a cry for attention. Deceptive correlation can be another cognitive cause of prejudice plus ultimate provenance error. Most of the racism-related cases are attributed to cultural beliefs and the mistrust cultivated towards another over time. Also, representation, as perceived by the society in major sectors of the community, plays a role in it. For instance, representation is evident in sectors such as the workplace and government offices. Further, racism can be attributed to programmed perception, explained by the way the world is perceived to be an anti-minority place with most of them undermined.
Racism develops in stages. In minorities, for example, the first stage is referred to as the pre-encounter stage. In this initial stage, minorities are brought up to believe that the world is anti- minority and they devalue their development as minorities. After that, these individuals grow up identifying themselves as minorities and validate themselves as so, referred to as encounter stage. Once they identify themselves as minorities, they get to the immersive stage where they reject all non- minority values as they dive deeper in minority practices and culture. Once this is at its maximum, the minorities finally get into the internalization stage where they feel safe and secure as minorities, including gaining confidence and comfort in expressing themselves. The final stage has them developing interest and preferences that generally characterizes and confines them with a certain minority group.
In general, both minorities and majorities in terms of racial discrimination undergo different stages as they delve into racism. The changes result in individual identity, which comprises the identification of oneself with a certain ethnic background. Individual identity leads to social categorization with most individuals being grouped in terms of personal preference, social status or support given to them by others of similar beliefs (Rothbart and Oliver, 2015). Consequently, individuals have to choose one ethnic group in preference of the other, resulting in developing of individual hate as well as being filled with confusion and remorse. After the realization of which side of the block one identifies with, individuals finally learn to appreciate their identity and expound on their social interactions. The denial and appreciation stages lead to the integration stage where they learn to appreciate different cultural backgrounds and their identities wholly. These steps are usually followed by biracial and multiracial groups with minimal adjustments.
Two Existing Gaps in Literature and Opportunities for Further Research
The handling of racism as a social problem has existing gaps. For starters, to reduce or erase racism, the causes of racism have to be reviewed. Secondly, expounding on how much interaction with people increase or reduce racism is essential. The major contributing factor to these gaps is the mindset that some practices are part of human nature such as social categorization (Rothbart and Oliver, 2015). The fact that an individual would effortlessly put another down as a means of making themselves feel better creates a challenge. Consequently, it becomes nearly impossible to get beyond issues such as stereotyping and prejudice. With interaction as the central factor of how much racism can be enhanced or reduced, there is need to determine just how much is enough. Discrimination as an aspect of racism can occur both intentionally and unintentionally even though effects are similar in depth. Discrimination, whatever the cause, trigger anger and anxiety, making it harder to handle.
Stigmatization of individuals in terms of their racial grounds may lead to worry and other psychological effects. Stigmatization, in this case, is viewed from an expanded source, such as in political platforms. The effects of racism are passed down several generation making it harder to erase it from a single one. Consequently, the effects are more adverse and the emotions more unforgiving, thus expanding the present rift. The level of life satisfaction and individual growth are areas of life largely influenced by how much an individual takes in. Thus, most prejudice and stereotypes do not just disappear. Instead, individuals may learn to not let them show. As worrying as it is, understanding the initial causes of racism for it to be easier to eradicate is, therefore, important. In addition, understanding how far individual interactions build stereotypes, prejudice or scenes of discriminations may contribute to this eradication.
Research Question Based on a Social-Psychology Lens
Research by Andrew (2013) acknowledged the fact that interaction reduces levels and intensities of racism. For example, by getting exposed to successful hardworking strong black icons such as President Barrack Obama and Oprah Winfrey, the negative feelings and thoughts placed upon blacks change. Understanding social characterization as a booster of racism will play a vital role in its control and eradication. Consequently, the instilling of knowledge and facts regarding racism in social areas such as the education sector and religious programs is vital. Gergen (2013) shows that most educated people rarely reflect instances of stereotyping, prejudice or intentional discrimination. Religious institutions instill knowledge of what is wrong and what is right resulting to altered perception especially in negative viewers. Social groups and events should focus on identification of similarities and the reduction of racism.
The effects of social interactions are strong and in many instances last a while. Racism thrives in a setting where the environment supports it. However, it disappears in environments where no support has been shown. Existing social norms may, therefore, help in the identification of causes of racism as well as areas of social interactions that need to be focused on in the battle against racism as described by Gergen (2013). Countering racism entails addressing stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination. Confronting a perpetrator may need courage. However, the battle against racism involves everyone in society. In matters concerning social psychology, therefore, it is significant to expound on how social norms can help identify the causes of racism and how they can help in its eradication.
References
Andrew, Elliot. (2013). “Are Racial Stereotypes Really Fading? The Princeton Trilogy Revisited.” Personality And Social Psychology Bulletin 21:1139-1150.
Bem, Daryl. (2013). “self-perception Theory.” Advances in experimental social psychology, 6, pp. 1-62.
Devine, Patricia. (2014). “Stereotypes and Prejudice: Their Automatic and Controlled Components.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 56:5-18.
Gergen, Kenneth. (2013). “Social Psychology as History.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 26 (2): 309-320.
Rothbart, Myron. & Oliver, John. (2015). “Social Categorization and Behavioral Episodes: A Cognitive Analysis of the Effects of Intergroup Contact.” Journal of Social Issues 41: 81-104.
Von, Hippel et al. (2014). “On The Role of Encoding Processes in Stereotypes Maintenance.” Advances in experimental social psychology , Vol. 27, edited by Mark P. Zanna, 177-253, San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
