Racism, Ethnocentrism, and Social Responsibility

Racism
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Racism
I Definitions
Racism is a term that describes the belief in the inherent superiority or inferiority of individuals or groups based on their ethnicity, which often results in unequal treatment or disadvantage for those who are of a different ethnicity (Trawalter, Bart-Plange, & Hoffman, 2020). On the other hand, discrimination is a term used to describe the denial of human or legal rights due to an individual because of certain characteristics like ethnicity, religion, and age, among others (American Psychological Association, 2022).
II Psychological Concepts
Ethnocentrism is a psychological concept that describes the tendency to view one's own culture, ethnicity, or nationality as superior to others, leading to a bias against other cultures or ethnic groups (Christopher & Leary, 2007). This bias can result in discrimination and racism by promoting an "us versus them" mentality. Ethnocentrism can contribute to racism when individuals believe that their race is superior to others, leading them to view people from other races as inferior or less deserving of opportunities and resources.
Fundamental attribution error describes a cognitive bias that occurs when a person attributes the behavior of others to internal or dispositional factors while ignoring the influence of situational factors (Christopher & Leary, 2007). The bias can contribute to racism by leading people to overemphasize the role of individual characteristics, such as race or ethnicity, in explaining behavior, while ignoring the influence of external factors, such as poverty or discrimination. This can contribute to the perpetuation of negative stereotypes and the justification of discriminatory policies and practices.
Learned helplessness is a psychological condition in which individuals come to believe that they are unable to control their circumstances, often as a result of repeated negative experiences (Christopher & Leary, 2007). The condition can contribute to racism by leading individuals from marginalized groups to feel powerless and unable to challenge discriminatory practices and policies.
The self-fulfilling prophecy describes an instance where false expectation based on unfounded belief influences the individual behavior, thus tending towards the confirmation of the unfounded belief. The phenomenon can contribute to racism by leading individuals to act in ways that reinforce negative stereotypes, and by creating a self-perpetuating cycle of discrimination (Christopher & Leary, 2007). For example, if police officers believe that individuals from certain racial or ethnic groups are more likely to be involved in criminal activity, they may be more likely to target these individuals, leading to a higher rate of arrests and convictions among members of these groups.
Victim blaming is the tendency to blame individuals for the harm or injustice they experience while downplaying the role of systemic factors or social structures. The tendency contributes to racism by leading people to assume that members of certain ethnic groups are responsible for the discrimination they experience, rather than acknowledging the impact of historical and ongoing discrimina...