What is prejudice: the meaning of a word, synonyms

Due to their related origins and common semantic core, many confuse such concepts as beliefs and prejudices. The paradox is that the usual prefix "before" seriously changes the meaning and emotional connotation of this word. It is not known who to blame for the fact that the level of education in society is slowly but inexorably decreasing, but now one can already hear from a prejudiced person that he has the full right to his own convictions, this makes him an integral person. Substitution of concepts and blurring of borders lead to an increase in misunderstanding, so it is worthwhile to understand what prejudice is, in what sense this word should be used, and what emotional load it brings.

The meaning of the word "prejudice"

According to the dictionaries, prejudice is a well-formed negative opinion and attitude to something or to someone. The peculiarity of this phenomenon lies in the fact that a prejudiced person does not need arguments, does not want to know the truth and is in his own world where the enemy's image is most successfully chosen, against which it is necessary to actively fight actively.

Another nuance, which most fully reveals the question of what prejudice is, is that in the overwhelming majority of cases there is an imposed another's opinion. That is, a prejudiced person has never encountered a hated phenomenon, but took on the faith of someone else's opinion and made it his. No less common is a generalization. For example, if a person is bitten by a dog, he has a prejudice, according to which all dogs are dangerous creatures that only dream to bite people, and dog owners secretly hate others, otherwise they would not keep these dangerous animals at home.

Who can be called prejudiced?

It is easy to mistake confusion and prejudice. If a person has sincerely absorbed the wrong idea, but is ready to learn new things, to check in practice whether the condemned phenomenon is so vicious, or at least recognizes the opinion of experts and recognizes the right of opponents to not divide his thoughts, then, most likely, it is a delusion. These are related concepts, the border between which is in the emotional sphere, and not in academic interpretation.

What is prejudice? First of all, it differs peremptorily. No facts will help to convince a person, and even if directly pushed him with positive manifestations of the object of rejection, the mind clinging to prejudice will instantly state that this is only an exception confirming the rule.

How do beliefs differ from prejudices?

Having convictions is logical and right, because a person without beliefs is weak. What does this little prefix "before", how does it shift the accent to the negative side? Beliefs in most cases are based on human experience. They do not necessarily have to touch any high matter, many beliefs concern everyday life.

For example, we are convinced that it is necessary to brush your teeth regularly. Why? Mom taught since early childhood, we can make sure from our own experience that if you do not brush your teeth, you will get an unpleasant smell from your mouth, your teeth look bad, your caries develop faster. Therefore, this is a belief confirmed by the experience and recommendations of dentists.

What is prejudice in the same field? If the grandmother says that the enamel is peeling off the brushing of teeth, then this is what concerns prejudices. Such mythology thrives on unverified rumors and distorted information. Developing the same example: someone told how a friend of his relative brushed his teeth, and his enamel erased, and all at once, from all teeth. In practice, it often turns out that it was a single tooth with a damaged enamel against abused abrasive cleaning agents. But prejudice has already fled to the people, gnawing at terrible details.

Bias and prejudice

Most dictionaries in the interpretation mention all the synonyms that are appropriate in the sense. We open an explanatory dictionary and see: "prejudice - which means bias or susceptibility to prejudice." If a person is familiar with these definitions, it will be easier for him to understand the essence of the concept. If a person is said to be prejudiced and prejudged, it means that he is subject to prejudice. In a broad sense, these words are indeed synonymous.

Relevance of the use of the word

Despite the fact that this concept has a negative emotional connotation, you can safely use it in the official speech, in correspondence, in virtually any circles. There is a slang analog with a slightly more diffuse meaning - "zamorochki" or "zabubony", these words have a similar meaning. "Prejudice" is a more correct way of telling an opponent that he is not entirely right, while not humiliating his dignity, not giving value judgments and not entering into confrontation. Calling someone's private opinion a prejudice, we recognize the right of the person to this opinion, indicating that it is biased, does not correspond to the truth, therefore it can not be considered exemplary.