Final answer:
The waitress's behavior towards the lesbian family, as per Gordon Allport's theory on prejudice, is likely influenced by held stereotypes and prejudiced attitudes, culminating in discriminatory actions such as bias and negative treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Gordon Allport's theory on prejudice, the waitress's behavior towards the lesbian family is likely caused by stereotypes and prejudice. Allport suggested that prejudice is an antipathy based on faulty and inflexible generalization, often manifesting towards members of a particular group. In the case of the waitress, she may hold implicit or explicit negative beliefs and attitudes towards LGBTQ+ individuals, which leads her to discriminate against the lesbian family through biased treatment.
Prejudice can lead to discrimination, which is a negative action taken due to an individual's membership in a particular group. The behavior of the waitress is likely influenced by homophobia, a type of prejudice against non-heterosexual people. Furthermore, if the waitress's discriminatory behavior impacts how the lesbian family behaves (for example, if they become quiet or seem uncomfortable), this could further reinforce her prejudiced views through a self-fulfilling prophecy, where the perceived behavior of the lesbian family confirms her initial prejudice.