Prejudice vs. Stereotype: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on November 16, 2023
Prejudice is a preconceived opinion not based on reason or experience, while a stereotype is a generalized belief about a particular group of people.
Key Differences
Prejudice can be negative or positive but often leads to unfair treatment. Stereotypes, while they can be positive, are mostly negative and can reinforce societal biases.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Prejudice can manifest in behavior, whereas stereotypes are more about thoughts and beliefs, which can lead to prejudiced attitudes.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Prejudice is often rooted in emotions and personal biases, sometimes leading to discriminatory behavior. Stereotypes are more about cognitive processes, where complex information is simplified into generalizations.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Prejudice refers to prejudgment or forming an opinion before becoming aware of the relevant facts of a case. Stereotypes, however, are oversimplified generalized beliefs about a group that do not account for individual differences.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Prejudice involves a personal element of feeling or attitude towards a group. Stereotypes are widely held but fixed and oversimplified images or ideas of a particular type of person.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Comparison Chart
XDefinition
A preconceived opinion not based on reason or experience.
A generalized belief about a particular group of people.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Basis
Often emotional and based on personal biases.
Based on cognitive simplification of information.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Manifestation
Can result in discriminatory behavior.
Often leads to generalized assumptions.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Nature
Can be either negative or positive.
Usually negative, but can sometimes be positive.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Focus
Personal feeling or attitude towards a group.
Widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Prejudice and Stereotype Definitions
Prejudice
An adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand.
She faced prejudice due to her background.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Stereotype
A standardized mental picture held in common by members of a group.
The stereotype of the successful businessman often includes being ruthless.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Prejudice
Dislike, hostility, or unjust behavior deriving from unfounded opinions.
Prejudice against older workers is common in some industries.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Stereotype
A generalized belief about a group applied to every member.
The stereotype that all teenagers are rebellious can be harmful.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Prejudice
A preconceived preference or idea.
The jury's prejudice about the defendant was clear.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Stereotype
Simplifying complex realities to generalized traits.
Stereotypes about gender roles persist in many societies.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Prejudice
The act or state of holding unreasonable preconceived judgments or convictions
“This is not actually a volume of the best short stories … These are just the stories that I like best, and I am full of prejudice and strong opinions” (Ann Patchett).
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Stereotype
A conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prejudice
An adverse judgment or opinion formed unfairly or without knowledge of the facts
A boy with a prejudice against unfamiliar foods.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Stereotype
One that is regarded as embodying or conforming to a set image or type.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prejudice
Irrational suspicion or hatred of a particular social group, such as a race or the adherents of a religion.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Stereotype
(Printing) A metal printing plate cast from a matrix molded from a raised printing surface, such as type.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prejudice
Detriment or harm caused to a person, especially in a legal case
The delay operated to her prejudice.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prejudice
Preclusionary effect, preventing further pursuit of one's interests
The case was dismissed with prejudice.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Stereotype
To characterize by a stereotype
"Elderly Americans are the neglected sector of the fashion industry, stereotyped by blue hair and polyester pantsuits" (American Demographics).
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prejudice
To fill with prejudice or cause to judge with prejudice
My rural upbringing has prejudiced me against living in the city.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prejudice
To affect detrimentally or harmfully by a judgment or act
Negative media coverage prejudiced people's opinion of the mayor.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prejudice
(countable) An adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge of the facts.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Stereotype
A conventional, formulaic, and often oversimplified or exaggerated conception, opinion, or image of (a person or a group of people).
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prejudice
(countable) A preconception, any preconceived opinion or feeling, whether positive or negative.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Stereotype
(psychology) A person who is regarded as embodying or conforming to a set image or type.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prejudice
(countable) An irrational hostile attitude, fear or hatred towards a particular group, race or religion.
I am free of all prejudices. I hate everyone equally.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Stereotype
(printing) A metal printing plate cast from a matrix moulded from a raised printing surface.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Stereotype
(software engineering) An extensibility mechanism of the Unified Modeling Language, allowing a new element to be derived from an existing one with added specializations.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Stereotype
(transitive) To make a stereotype of someone or something, or characterize someone by a stereotype.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prejudice
(transitive) To have a negative impact on (someone's position, chances etc.).
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Stereotype
To prepare for printing in stereotype; to produce stereotype plates of.
To stereotype the Bible
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Stereotype
A plate forming an exact faximile of a page of type or of an engraving, used in printing books, etc.; specifically, a plate with type-metal face, used for printing.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prejudice
An opinion or judgment formed without due examination; prejudgment; a leaning toward one side of a question from other considerations than those belonging to it; an unreasonable predilection for, or objection against, anything; especially, an opinion or leaning adverse to anything, without just grounds, or before sufficient knowledge.
Though often misled by prejudice and passion, he was emphatically an honest man.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Stereotype
The art or process of making such plates, or of executing work by means of them.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prejudice
A bias on the part of judge, juror, or witness which interferes with fairness of judgment.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Stereotype
To prepare for printing in stereotype; to make the stereotype plates of; as, to stereotype the Bible.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prejudice
Mischief; hurt; damage; injury; detriment.
England and France might, through their amity,Breed him some prejudice.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Stereotype
Fig.: To make firm or permanent; to fix.
Powerful causes tending to stereotype and aggravate the poverty of old conditions.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prejudice
To cause to have prejudice; to prepossess with opinions formed without due knowledge or examination; to bias the mind of, by hasty and incorrect notions; to give an unreasonable bent to, as to one side or the other of a cause; as, to prejudice a critic or a juryman.
Suffer not any beloved study to prejudice your mind so far as to despise all other learning.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Stereotype
A conventional or formulaic conception or image;
Regional stereotypes have been part of America since its founding
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prejudice
To obstruct or injure by prejudices, or by previous bias of the mind; hence, generally, to hurt; to damage; to injure; to impair; as, to prejudice a good cause.
Seek how may prejudice the foe.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Stereotype
Treat or classify according to a mental stereotype;
I was stereotyped as a lazy Southern European
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Prejudice
A partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Stereotype
A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person.
The stereotype of the absent-minded professor is often seen in movies.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Stereotype
A stereotype can also refer to a conventional, formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image.
She challenged the stereotype of a passive housewife in her writings.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Prejudice
Prejudgment or forming an opinion without factual basis.
His decision was based on prejudice rather than facts.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Prejudice
Irrational suspicion or hatred of a particular group, race, or religion.
His comments revealed a deep-seated prejudice.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can prejudice be unconscious?
Yes, often people are not aware of their prejudices.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Can one be prejudiced in favor of a group?
Yes, positive prejudice is favoring a group without knowing them well.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Do stereotypes affect how people perceive others?
Yes, they can strongly influence perceptions and interactions.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Is prejudice always based on race or ethnicity?
No, it can be based on various factors like age, gender, or religion.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Can stereotypes change over time?
Yes, as societal attitudes and knowledge evolve, so can stereotypes.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Do stereotypes always influence behavior?
Not always, but they can subtly influence decisions and actions.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Are prejudices always deliberate?
No, some prejudices are subconscious or implicit.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Are stereotypes always negative?
Not always, but they often contain a negative component.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Can prejudice lead to discrimination?
Yes, prejudice can manifest as discriminatory behavior.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Is stereotyping a form of prejudice?
It can be, especially when it leads to negative assumptions.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Is it possible to unlearn prejudice?
Yes, through self-awareness and education, prejudices can be unlearned.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Are all stereotypes harmful?
While not all are harmful, they can limit understanding of individuality.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Are children born with prejudices?
No, prejudices are learned from the social environment.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Can media perpetuate stereotypes?
Yes, media representations can reinforce or challenge stereotypes.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Can prejudice affect mental health?
Yes, experiencing or harboring prejudice can impact mental well-being.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Can stereotypes be based on some truth?
They might originate from a grain of truth but are oversimplified.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Can education reduce prejudice?
Yes, education and exposure to diversity can help reduce prejudice.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Can prejudice be a form of stereotyping?
Prejudice often involves stereotyping as a component.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Do stereotypes simplify complex human traits?
Yes, they reduce individuals to basic, often inaccurate traits.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Can one person's actions change stereotypes?
Individual actions can challenge and potentially change stereotypes over time.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 15, 2023
Share this page
Link for your blog / website
HTML
Link to share via messenger
About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
Shumaila Saeed
