Final answer:
According to the Authoritarian personality theory, the causes of prejudice and discrimination include economic factors, parenting styles and childhood experiences, and exposure to diverse cultures.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the Authoritarian personality theory, the causes of prejudice and discrimination can be attributed to various factors. These include:
- Economic factors: Factors such as social and physical distance, relative socioeconomic status, and the size of a minority group can contribute to tastes for discrimination. For example, landlords may choose to only rent to individuals of a certain race or religion, even if it means losing potential income.
- Parenting styles and childhood experiences: Children learn prejudiced attitudes and beliefs from society, including their parents, teachers, friends, and the media. Normative pressures to conform to social norms can also influence prejudiced beliefs and behaviors.
- Exposure to diverse cultures: Contact, interactions, and building relationships with members of different cultural groups can reduce prejudice. Imagining positive interactions with someone from a different group can increase positive attitudes and decrease anxiety associated with inter-group interactions.