Prejudice Psychology Definition: How Prejudice Is Seen In Therapy Today

Prejudice is a broad, multifaceted feature of human behavior observable across cultures and history. Some groups and individuals experience professional, personal, and societal pressure to conform to a particular type of behavior or to belong to a certain group. Understanding prejudice from a psychological perspective can be a valuable step toward acknowledging and addressing the harmful effects of prejudice within society.   

To begin to understand prejudice’s impact, it may be helpful to learn its psychological roots, how it shapes behavior, and how it interacts with the social world. You can explore the psychology of prejudice through its definition, how it manifests in mental health environments, and ways to mitigate its effect.                               

Prejudice psychology definition: Prejudice through the lens of psychology

Prejudice refers to a term widely used in psychology, commonly defined as predetermined attitudes or judgments (often negative) toward an individual or group. This attitude typically forms without adequate understanding, knowledge, reflection, or reasoning. 

Negative bias against sexual orientation, gender, and other identity factors

In psychology, prejudice signifies an individual's negative bias against others based on their inclusion (perceived or otherwise) in a specific group. This group identification may be based on different categories or demographic factors, such as race, religious affiliation (like religious prejudice), sexual orientation, gender, nationality, age, disability status, socioeconomic status, education, and other identity factors. 

Where is prejudice rooted?

The origins of prejudice come from several psychological phenomena, including stereotyping. Stereotypes are simplified generalized beliefs or expectations of somebody based on their association with a particular group or characteristic. When these stereotypes lead to a negative attitude, belief, or expectation, they can lead to prejudice.    

A psychological concept known as “in-group bias” or “in-group favoritism” occurs when someone tends to favor members that belong to a particular group and excludes or negatively treats those that belong to other groups. This bias is a foundation for prejudicial attitudes, as it can lead individuals to treat those “outside of their group” negatively or harshly. 

Prejudice vs. discrimination

Prejudice refers to the irrational beliefs, feelings, and attitudes about a person or group. It is cognitive. Discrimination, on the other hand, is behavioral. It expresses prejudice and involves an unjust action toward a person or a group. 

Identifying psychological prejudice

Prejudice can appear on a spectrum, ranging from subtle microaggressions to intentional disrespect. In some cases, prejudice shows up as unnoticed unconscious or unintentional biases. Despite its subtlety, a prejudiced attitude can significantly impact one’s feelings, behaviors, decision-making processes, and interactions. Some people may not notice how “supposedly normal” human thinking can be shaped by societal experiences and culture, sometimes in harmful ways.

At an individual level, being a target of prejudice can lead to social exclusion, negative feelings, and mental distress. Prejudice via a preconceived attitude or preconceived ideas can limit opportunities across various spheres of life, such as professional growth or educational program acceptance. On a societal scale, prejudice can deepen social divisions, perpetuate social inequalities, and incite conflict.   

How does prejudice show up in mental health care?

Prejudice toward people with mental health conditions has been found to contribute to delayed mental health treatment. Research has shown that stigma and stereotypes related to mental health conditions harm individuals, leading to worsened symptoms and discrimination in professional and personal settings. 

Mental health stereotypes continue to be pervasive through media, unconscious actions and thoughts, and a lack of awareness surrounding how prejudice appears in daily life. These unhealthy and inaccurate stereotypes can contribute to guilt and shame surrounding mental health conditions. 

In some cases, negative emotions and thoughts can lead to denial or secrecy surrounding mental health diagnoses. Mental health symptoms and conditions can become more damaging without a safe space for individuals to seek help, share their experiences, and communicate their needs. 

Strategies and approaches to reduce prejudice

One of the first steps you can take toward combating prejudice may be understanding the intricacies of prejudice and recognizing its pervasiveness within and across societies. A therapist can help you uncover ways you may be prejudiced within your environment and social circles and how prejudice you experience has affected or continues to affect you. You can work with a mental health professional to develop coping and resilience strategies to mitigate the effects of prejudice in your life.   

Psychologists have developed multiple interventions to tackle prejudice. Such interventions include exercises to foster empathy between groups, encourage interactions between diverse individuals, and raise awareness of the damaging effects of prejudice in our society. Some psychologists advocate for diversity training in schools, workplaces, and communities to increase exposure and compassion within communities. 

School interventions target child behavior to replace negative patterns with positive ones. Other psychologists advocate for cooperative learning, where individuals from diverse backgrounds work together to achieve common goals. The idea behind exercises like these is often to challenge negative and falsified beliefs and reduce the impact of stereotyping and prejudice. 

Support options 

If you’re considering therapy to challenge your prejudices, you have several choices. Some people may face barriers to in-person therapy. In these cases, online therapy offers an accessible, affordable way to address new, pervasive, and future challenges. Platforms like BetterHelp can provide access to care for those with geographic, financial, or stigma-related constraints to finding support. 

Online therapy offers a comfortable, familiar environment for individuals to seek mental healthcare. For those struggling with prejudice, whether as perpetrators or targets, the “faceless” nature of an online therapy space may facilitate or open discussions and express thoughts. You can meet virtually via videoconference from the comfort of your home or office or opt for a phone call instead. Users can also text their dedicated online counselor, and they will respond when they can. 

Online therapy

Studies have affirmed online therapy’s effectiveness in treating mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, which may stem from frequent or intense experiences of prejudice. In a 2019 study, researchers examined the impact of a multimodal digital platform intervention compared to face-to-face psychotherapy in treating depression. Results yielded that the online platform was equally effective in reducing the severity of depression symptoms across genders, self-reported financial status, and physical health status. 

Takeaway

Prejudice is frequently discussed in several contexts, including social conversations and psychological studies. Through awareness, open dialogue, and proactive measures, individuals can progressively work toward reducing prejudice and fostering a more inclusive and empathetic society for all.