In A Perfect World..... - Applied Social Psychology (ASP)

In 1954 Discrimination is defined as sequential steps by which an individual behaves negatively toward members of another racial group: verbal antagonism, avoidance, segregation, physical attack, and extermination (Allport, 1954). In 2013 it is defined as: the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, esp. on the grounds of race, age, or sex (Merriam-Webster, 2013). The definition of discrimination now includes age and sex. Did discrimination get worse over the past 60 years or did we increase our understanding of it?

We gained understanding. There are many types of discrimination. Years of defining discrimination as white hostility against other races that created disadvantages in the work place and socially became the "poster child" or "ugly face" of discrimination. We as a people have focused much energy and resources towards eliminating this discrimination. President Kennedy made the fight against racial discrimination a public forum when he promised to put an end to it in his inaugural address (Kennedy, 1961). The following years, though turbulent, saw many changes directed at doing just that, so why in 2012 did the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) report more worker discrimination complaints than ever before in its recorded history?

Many instances of discrimination have been self imposed and we are now seeing the results of that because of economical and financial conditions creating a more competitive market for educational opportunities,?jobs and family sustainability. Phenomena known as avoidance (Becker, 1971) which occurs as the result of a class race or group having an aversion to interracial contact. The acceptance of less to keep from interacting with a specific group or staying away from what could be a racially conflict filled interaction is the basis for this phenomenon.

This is also referred to as a taste for discrimination. Wage and labor markets are affected because long term avoidance can lead to exclusion and segregation which results in acceptance of lower wages and positions. This condition may also be problematic in social situations, employment situations (hiring or promotions), educational situations or even access to healthcare. Therefore, the purposeful avoidance of another person or race can be just as damaging as forced segregation.

In 1954 when the legal segregation of races was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, the percentage of Americans that were in support of laws enforcing fair and equal opportunities was roughly 10% where as 50 years later the percentage is 90% (Bobo, 2001). The remaining 10% are likely to be members of extremist or other groups that exhibit intentional racial behaviors because of a belief of being threatened by other racial groups (Duckitt, 2001). These individuals tend to get more press and media coverage because of the sensationalism surrounding their beliefs and actions therefore an appearance or perception of a larger contingent is experienced.

Because of less tolerance, more education, racial and gender empowerment, forced and accepted (avoidance) segregation has become a focus issue and with many watch groups in place to monitor and protect individuals and their rights the number of complaints legitimately went up. The interventions are in place and will need to stay in place. The monitoring and measuring of the success of these interventions will need to become more focused to ensure new interventions are put in place as needed. ?As long as different societies and cultures continue to interact and mesh together there will be discriminatory acts and whether those acts are intentional or unintentional, they will occur. We must continue research and analysis to keep a vigilant spotlight on the issue of discrimination and continue to empower people to come forward with complaints to keep segregation from occurring on the level it had in the pre-1950 decades.

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Reference:

Allport, G. (1954). The Nature of Prejudice. Cambridge, Mass. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc.,

Inaugural Address, Kennedy Draft, 01/17/1961; Papers of John F. Kennedy: President's Office Files, 01/20/1961-11/22/1963; John F. Kennedy Library; National Archives and Records Administration.

Bobo, L. (2001) Racial attitudes and relations at the close of the twentieth century. In America Becoming: Racial Trends and Their Consequences, Vol. I, N.J. Smelser, W.J. Wilson, and F. Mitchell, eds. Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, National Research Council. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

Duckitt, J. (2001) A dual-process cognitive-motivational theory of ideology and prejudice. In Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, Vol. 33, M.P. Zanna, ed. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.

Becker, G. (1971) The Economics of Discrimination, 2nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Source: http://www.personal.psu.edu/bfr3/blogs/asp/2013/03/in-a-perfect-world.html

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