What causes prejudice?

Question

Is it fear?

Answer 1

Insecurity... of the most basic kind.

All herd creatures reject other species in order to preserve their own numbers...however, we like to think of ourselves as civilized or "enlightened".

so it's a reasonable conclusion that prejudice is a remnant from our animal brain, and the closer you are to that primordial model,... the more apt you are to harbor Racial, Gender, and Philosophical Prejudice.

Bigots are further down on the evolutionary ladder.

Answer 2

Stupid f^^^ing stereotypes do... Who says ignorance is bliss.

Answer 3

Fear of what you do not understand and how you  are raised causes prejudice. If you are not taught about other cultures and not exposed to other cultures,that  may be a reason why some may be prejudiced.

Answer 4

I think the simple answer is 'upbringing'.  If you see prejudice in your life, from those whom you look up to, you'll grow up with the same attitudes.

Answer 5

Yes,  fear is the root cause.  But, it's also indoctrination by those who have been fearful:  they teach it to their children by their words and by their actions.  Many times it's taught as a defense mechanism.

Answer 6

Largely it is fear I think.  People have it in their heads that this group or that group is taking over somehow, or taking something away from them.  That's what I hear when I talk to someone who is prejudiced.  

I just had a conversation a few days ago with someone convinced that blacks commit way more crimes, they're the ones lining up to get free benefits, etc.  I remember years ago talking to a young woman who said she could have a black person as a friend, but couldn't sit to dinner with them.  ?Huh?  I didn't get that one, but it was the way she was raised.

Its misiformation that is fed to people when they're children usually that causes them to be prejudiced.  I've seen some of it in certain churches too.

People are people...there are good and bad in any group whether you're talking about gender, race, religion, whatever.

Answer 7

Fear and ignorance.