Causes of Prejudice and Discrimination

1. Ignorance - often people's knowledge and understanding of another group of people is based on stereotypical ideas and beliefs. They usually do not know enough about the person or group of people and so feel threatened. There is a lack of understanding and ignorance about a culture or cultural practises and this can lead to conflict.
   

   
2. Experience - a young person may have had a ‘bad’ experience of others who identify with a certain group of people. The young person may develop negative, stereotypical views about everyone of this religion or race and hence become prejudiced.

   

   
   
3. The media - sometimes the media can present a negative image of people with different cultures or religion or race and this can influence people's perception of that group.

   

   
   
4. Friends/peers - friends may hold negative, stereotypical views about other cultures and identities which could cause a young person to accept these views as a way of trying to remain as part of a friendship group.

   

   
   
5. Family members - Parents and other family members may hold strong, negative views about people of different cultures and identities. A young person may accept these views are right and may begin to develop the same attitudes and beliefs.