Question

Write a brief note on the following:

Prejudice and social distance

Answer 1

Prejudice is a negative, preconceived attitude toward an individual or group based on characteristics such as race, caste, religion, gender, or ethnicity. These attitudes are usually formed without proper knowledge or understanding and are often rooted in stereotypes, fear, or societal norms. Prejudiced individuals tend to judge others unfairly and behave in discriminatory ways, even when there is no logical basis for such behavior.

Social Distance, on the other hand, refers to the level of intimacy or closeness that a person feels or is willing to have with members of different social or cultural groups. It is a way of measuring how much people accept or reject others from different backgrounds, for instance, whether they are comfortable with someone from another group as a friend, neighbour, co-worker, or family member through marriage.