The two faces of prejudice

Prejudices have two faces: one negative and one positive. The latter refers to those mental schemes where positive characteristics are unconsciously and automatically attributed to people or groups.

Prejudices have two faces, although generally, we only perceive one. It is common that when thinking about this term, we relate it to discrimination, generalization and the most unfavorable ideas about a person or groups. For example: fat people are lazy, old people are boring, women talk too much, etc.

However, also We find positive prejudices, which are mental representations about what is expected of someone for having a certain characteristic or personality.. These make us think the person to whom we attribute them will necessarily be characterized by what we expect.

Some examples of this are: older men are more chivalrous, women are sweet and loving, and black people are excellent athletes. As William James said in his day “People think they are thinking when they do nothing but rearrange their prejudices.”

“Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and makes the present inaccessible.”

-Maya Angelou-

Usefulness of positive prejudices

Mahzarin Banaji, a professor at Harvard University, points out that prejudices are part of our culture. It is that fingerprint specific to each country that remains imprinted on our minds without us realizing it. They do not teach us to think independently and hence, we end up integrating both positive and negative prejudices.

Are positive prejudices “good”?

Are positive prejudices really the opposite of negative prejudices? Or do they perhaps have a similar origin and psychological effects very similar to the negative ones? This is something that requires stopping and reflecting in order to understand it. And so Although it has the adjective “positive”, it does not necessarily indicate that it is something good for those who endure it.

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It is important to make a difference. In general, These prejudices create a mental image in those who assume them that make them think that the other person has a certain positive quality or characteristic.This leads us to bond with the other person based on that belief and to generate expectations of what they should be without allowing ourselves to really get to know that person. These positive stereotypes can go in favor of a person with certain characteristics of sex, age or origin. ethnic during, for example, a job interview.

We give certain ideas without analyzing them

Now, as Dr. Thomas Chadefaux explains to us in a study, our tendency to “rationalize” prejudices leads us to maintain ideas that are not always true. In this case, It can happen that without knowing anything about the other person we idealize them.

We may come to think that this person is capable of performing a certain task simply because he or she is young, having studied at a certain university, or because he or she is American, etc.

“Stereotypes lose their power when the world is found to be more complex than the stereotype might suggest. “When we learn that individuals don’t fit the group stereotype, then it starts to fall apart.”

-Ed Koch-

But at the same time, This positive prejudice is creating pressure for that standard that can generate severe insecurity problems in those who cannot meet what is expected. In this era, with the rise of exposure and competitiveness, the goal is to achieve an image and adjust to a certain pre-established pattern, forcing us to fit in with the ideals of the culture.

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The harmfulness of positive prejudices

In all its forms, prejudices limit and lock a person into a socially pre-established pattern.. Negative prejudices do us more harm because they are related to exclusion and discrimination, but those that are “positive” also play a harmful role by creating ideals and pressures of what one should be or have for possessing a certain characteristic.

Effects of positive prejudices

Unfortunately, many people are not aware of the amount of prejudices that they always carry behind them and that influence whenever they meet someone. That’s why, Although the negative ones are essential to eliminate, we also have to look at those that we believe are positivebut there are not so many if we see it from another perspective.

Let us not forget that both prevent us from getting to know the other person in depth with complete freedom; we deny them the opportunity to show us who they are, what they are like and what qualities they have.

Each person is unique and authentic, so we must always avoid prejudices., regardless of its nature. This way we will escape the possibility of being limited in our contact and in the openness we have towards others.