In today’s healthcare landscape, prejudice, discrimination, and stereotypes persist, affecting how people interact and receive care. Despite our best efforts to address these issues, they continue to shape attitudes and behaviors. This article aims to uncover the root causes of prejudice and discrimination, clarify the differences between them, and explore why stereotypes persist.
Understanding where prejudice and discrimination come from is crucial for nurses as they care for diverse patient populations. Drawing from various scholarly sources, including academic journals and expert texts, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of these social issues.
Prejudice and discrimination have complex origins, stemming from cognitive, social, and motivational factors. Stereotypes endure due to cognitive processes like confirmation bias and cognitive miserliness, which lead people to rely on simplified mental shortcuts and interpret information selectively. Social influences, such as socialization and peer pressure, reinforce stereotypes by promoting group norms and expectations. Motivational factors like the need for social identity and cognitive consistency also play a role, pushing individuals to maintain stereotypes to fit in and feel secure.
It’s essential for nurses to distinguish between prejudice and discrimination. Prejudice involves holding negative beliefs about certain groups, while discrimination entails unfair treatment based on those beliefs. Though different, they often overlap, perpetuating inequality.
Despite efforts to challenge stereotypes, they persist due to the complexity of human cognition and social dynamics. However, understanding their root causes is vital for promoting inclusivity, equality, and social justice in healthcare. By addressing biases, challenging norms, and fostering empathy, nurses can help dismantle barriers to equality and create healthcare environments where everyone feels valued.
In summary, unraveling the complexities of bias requires exploring its cognitive, social, and motivational underpinnings. With this understanding, nurses can work towards building healthcare spaces that are truly inclusive and compassionate, where every patient receives equitable care and respect.
References:
Brandt, A. M. (1978). Racism and research: the case of the Tuskegee syphilis study. The Hastings Center, 8(6), 21–29.
Coyne, S. M., Linder, J., Nelson, D. A., & Gentile, D. A. (2011). “frenemies, fraitors, and mean-emaitors”: Priming effects of viewing physical and relational aggression in the media on women. Aggressive Behavior, n/a–n/a.
Myers, D. G., & Twenge, J. M. (2018). Social Psychology (13th ed.) [pdf]. San Diego State University.
