Prejudice, Bias and Bigotry: Three Related Concepts With Different Meanings

Prejudice is a natural and necessary response to the unknown; to pretend otherwise is nonsense.

As children we are told that prejudice is bad, evil, and we should not be prejudiced. Defenders of minorities and politicians seeking support rail against prejudice. One thing these self-righteous mouth pieces never recognize or mention is that:

Prejudice is as normal as it is necessary to survival.

Prejudice is the act of pre-judging, coming to a conclusion before all facts are known. In its simplest form, prejudice is what keeps organisms, even humans, safe and alive. Have you ever walked near a bird, only to have it fly off? Or have you ever had a small dog yip at you, even though you were yards away? That is prejudice in its most innocent form—a defense mechanism against an unknown “other.” The “other” to which I refer is an animal unlike itself, or, in human terms, someone recognizably from another group, whether they be from another tribe, race or region. Organisms must practice a certain amount of prejudice until they learn that the “other” will do them no harm. A squirrel can be trained to take seeds from one’s hand, a bird can be coaxed to finger, given time enough to learn that no threat is found there.

Bias, on the other hand, is the act of giving unwarranted preferential treatment or consideration. Bias can be for or against, or can be used for good or evil. When a contract for a project is given to a company with a relationship with an interested party, even though it is not the best for the project, that is bias against citizens and the other contractors; it is wrong. When a minority student is given entry to a college for which he is less qualified than other applicants, it is good for the winner, especially if he goes on to do good with the “leg up,” but bad for those who worked hard—maybe harder—but were not selected because of their race or economic status. Bias is relative, good for some, not good for others. Bias can be argued for only if it is for the greater good. Bias is antithetical to the “level playing ground” we purport to have in Western cultures.

Bigotry is taking unwarranted action against others, especially others of a different race, culture or nationality. It is seen and practiced in all cultures and races. No group, no matter how liberal or friendly it purports to be is free of its own form of bigotry. It is universal.

Prejudice keeps one safe. Bias gives preferential treatment. Bigotry is an act of hate. Having prejudiced thoughts is natural, but when acted upon in the form of bias or bigotry, they change into something that needs to be controlled. People need to understand the difference between the three if progress is to be made, but we also need to understand that all three are immutable attributes of being human.