Inter-Group Conflict, Prejudice, and Discrimination

Introduction

Discrimination among groups in the United States cuts across different spheres such as race, sexuality, ethnicity, religion, gender, and political dispositions. However, some are impacted more by these conflicts than others. According to Daniller (2021), most Americans are convinced that Black, Asian and Hispanic people are discriminated against. Eighty percent of Americans believe Black people are discriminated against, 70 percent see it against the Asian, and 76 percent against the Hispanic. This discrimination exists in political, medical, education, and even social environments. Daniller 2021 adds that Republicans and Democrats also share similar sentiments that the degree of discrimination and intergroup conflicts is high in the United States. These revelations guide the themes in this paper about how intergroup conflicts, discrimination, and prejudice in the United States should be addressed. The paper examines these conflicts and shares multiple approaches to address the challenges by exploring various theories by psychologists.

Analysis

When a group views another as an outgroup, they feel separated. According to Page-Gould et al. (2008, p. 1080), there is intense anxiety between groups who hold or express varying opinions or cultures. This exists because people fail to understand people's uniqueness and, as a result, react to these differences. In response, the authors explain the significance of cross-group friendship in minimizing anxiety prevalent in intergroup. They argue that there is no doubt that relationships between varying social groups often characterize anxiety. Still, when these diverse groups engage in cross-group friendship, statistics indicate improved attitudes, which translate to better intergroup contact. For instance, according to longitudinal research described by the authors, students in colleges and those who exhibit intergroup differences depicted a significant attenuation in their anxiety levels towards the end of their college life. For racial groups, appreciating cultural differences in the United States means reducing the potential hatred and discrimination among them.

Some of the racial groupings in the United States are informed by historical elements that propagate the theme...

This assertion is evident in the discussion by Behler. According to Behler et al. (2021), nostalgia among the American society is closely linked to self-continuity and connectedness and is often associated with inter and intrapersonal benefits. However, it challenges how intergroup interactions are created, exposes population differences, and influences political attitudes. Statistics during the 2016 elections involving 252 participants indicated that nostalgia profiles attitudes and emotions. High nostalgia was associated with admiration for President Trump and prejudice. These effects were mediated by assumed threats emanating from outgroups.

Interestingly, the above research indicated that most voters inclined to President Obama supported Trump despite the racial rhetoric primarily because of a desire for past experiences. The authors argue that the slogan "Make America Great Again" was fueled by...

…done, it can escalate intergroup differences. It requires genuine sharing of ideas such as political ideologies between diplomats and democrats. This requires initiating citizen assemblies where the views of intergroup citizens are represented to attain political deliberation and establish a common ground of unity.

Social contacts enable individuals to appreciate other people's perspectives. For example, the opinions of American transgender minorities can be understood through these contacts and help people shift their attitudes. This is a psychological intervention. These effects are more pronounced in contemporary society due to the technological revolution that has simplified sharing of opinions through social media. Mccammon (2019) explains the controversial debates about gay rights and the entire LGBTQ group. These have an emotional connection and heightened potential to escalate the intergroup conflict between straight and transgender people, increasing polarization in the United States. It is essential to address the psychological attitudes during voting and how they lead to increased polarization in the political scenes. In the United States, the dominance of two political parties means that political differences are highly felt during voting. Losers rarely get proportionate representation. To reduce this political conflict, voting should be based on policies, not parties, reducing identity differences.

Conclusion

Thus, intergroup conflicts, discrimination, and prejudice are real threats to the unity of the United States. However, through various theories discussed in this paper, such as social contacts, the differences can be reduced to reflect a more cohesive society…