First, we must begin by defining bigotry and then we can start discovering its causes and solutions. The most comprehensive definition of bigotry to me is "intolerance or
hatred toward another group that is different from ourselves." Many times we think of prejudice toward others of a different ethnic group, but sometimes we overlook other forms of bigotry including intolerance or hatred toward those who have different beliefs, philosophies, even personalities or gifts, etc. A Few Quick Examples My family is a diverse family and over the years I have seen and heard of many examples and forms of bigotry toward them. Some examples are more subtle, such as passing over someone in a selection process when all things are equal, and others are more overt such as the finger at
an intersection toward someone of a different ethnic group who is a complete stranger. Another example I've personally experienced had to do with expressing different opinions in a religious group and seeing the "knee jerk responses" and "the looks" that state nonverbally, "you're a wierdo!" So What Causes Bigotry? There are many causes of bigotry and many times more then one cause is in motion. Here are a couple of causes:
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Ignorance- To me this can be one of the more "innocent" of the causes.
Sometimes people who are younger or those who may have lived a sheltered life do not know or understand others who are different from themselves in some way. ¡1
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Negative Experience or ExperiencesUnfortunately this many times multiplies itself from generation to generation. It can possibly be especially harmful if this is the only experience someone has with a particular group of people. Lack of Experience- This could be just as harmful as a negative experience depending on the person involved. It's easy for us a people to view others who are different from us with suspicion or disdain when viewing from a distance.
However, once we get to know them beyond differences, we find that they are not that much different than ourselves. This is why cliques are so damaging to building bridges of understanding between people groups. ¡3
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Family Upbringing- The saying, "more is caught than taught" has been repeated in the context of teaching, and this principle applies very well in the primary family context which serves as the first school in human relationships. Roots of bitterness, friends, groups, and social norms- This observation comes from my personal experience as well as others' experiences and connects well with basic principles in sociology. Whenever offenses are taken up by
individuals of two different groups, factions develop. These factions are a result of bitterness and disdain of one group toward the other. Social norms are "unspoken rules" that govern how a prospective group functions. Bitterness can be like a weed that finds root in the most unlikely places but grows in its extent by becoming intertwined in the social norms of any particular group. The "in-group" then is the particular group you are part of now. The "outgroup" is the group that you are not part of which the in-group holds dislike or hatred toward. Examples of this are abundant in history and span from religious conflict to national or race conflict to philosophical conflict. ¡5
Culture- Sadly enough, hatred can be
found in some cultures. To be realistic and fair, all cultures have positive and negative aspects simply because they were created over time by imperfect humans. Its always up to each individual to decide what aspects of their given culture they wish to emulate and what aspects need reforming and/ or growth. Solutions for Bigotry
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Networking and openness to diversityMany times misconceptions and perceived differences are dismantled by
consistent casual connections with a diverse group of people. The person doing the contacting soon realizes that all culture has positives and negatives and that people are people no matter where they go or who they are. ¡7
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Letting go of limiting belief systems- This may be a process that takes some time, but it is well worth the time invested because it allows us to have a healthier and more abundant life. Limiting belief systems are acquired throughout our lives and can affect how we view certain groups of people. Since at some time we learned how to acquire them, we can also then learn how to let go of them. Building positive experiences by
beginning casual friendships with healthy individuals. These positive experiences can take the place of negative experiences or a lack of experiences. It takes time to get to know people to see where they are in their mental health. But a positive experience is always something you can build on. Summing It Up Bigotry is intolerance or hatred toward another group that is different from us. Examples of bigotry are expansive and include ethnicity, nationality, religion, personality, philosophy, gender, etc. Causes of bigotry are ignorance, negative experiences, lack of experience, family
upbringing, roots of bitterness, and culture to name a few. Solutions include networking and openness to diversity, letting go of limiting belief systems, and building positive experiences with healthy individuals. Your Application What person or people could you or do you have intolerance or hatred toward and what is the cause of this perspective? What practical solutions and goals can you set to overcome this point of view? After defining your own bigotry and discovering it's causes and solutions, what is your own personal and practical plan of growth?