BloodHenge wrote:
Mestro wrote:
No, stereotypes and prejudice are not simply verbal matters.
Stereotypes are mental conceptions of characteristics associated with a particular group.
Prejudices are enduring mental conceptions of unjustified negative characteristics associated with a particular group.
BloodHenge wrote:
First, prejudices are not necessarily negative. For example, one might have a positive prejudice toward members of one category and a negative prejudice against members of another category.
The use of the term prejudice without the use of qualifiers has a definite affective vector and would refer to the definition that I used above. In your usage above, you have conflated the concept of attitude with the term of prejudice. Attitudes may be positive (good) or negative (bad). If the attitude is negative and, in addition, unjustified, it is a prejudice.
BloodHenge wrote:
Second, prejudice is not necessarily unjustified. The decision made could be based on characteristics that are demonstrably (or even difinitively) shared by every member of the category.
A prejudice
(sic) that is absolutely true of every member of a category is not a prejudice. For example, you cannot slander someone with the truth. Also, that would be an act of discrimination, not prejudice, as it has passed into action.
Happily, the example that you use is one that I have seen disproved which makes it quicker for me to explain. That manager might require a person of definite qualifications. Even after he hires the interviewee, he must assess him in the workplace, the qualifications of graduands is more likely to save the company time, money and customer good will. It is not discriminatory since it is based on 'true' things.