Final answer:
Microaggressions can lead to stress, multiple forms of discrimination, exclusion and avoidance, and unconscious bias.
Step-by-step explanation:
Microaggressions are everyday instances of thinly veiled insults directed toward individuals from historically excluded groups. When microaggressions occur, they can lead to four psychological dilemmas:
- Stress: Being the recipient of prejudice and discrimination can cause significant stress and negatively impact both physical and mental health.
- Multiple forms of discrimination: People who simultaneously experience discrimination based on multiple social identities may face even stronger negative effects on their mental and physical health.
- Exclusion and avoidance: Stereotypes and prejudice can lead to excluding and avoiding group members, perpetuating societal instability.
- Unconscious bias: Microaggressions might be a result of individuals' unconscious biases, which are implicit, unfair preferences they hold without being aware of them.