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PREJUDICE- PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS
Marian Baltazar
Class of 1980, University of the Philippines College of Manila
AB Political Science
People tend to be prejudice when they already have these preconceived notions about something or of a
person. They actually tend to be bias towards a particular person, object, event and whatever they need to
make a decision on. To simply define it, prejudice means to have a judgment even before you have seen or
heard of something with your own eyes. This happens most of the time in every situation. I just think that it is
very close to being discriminating or you are quick to stereotype a person or a particular group.
Almost always, in this modern computer age that we are in now, people have a lot of preconceptions. That is, it
frequently carries a negative notion in a lot of instances and circumstances in the life of a person. Apparently,
when we talk of prejudice it can mean either a positive or a negative bias. We always have that tendency to
cling to our own opinion on a matter even before we have even known and considered about it. This is very
true because even if we haven’t even seen, known or understood the person or matter, we are so quick to
judge it. It is as in we didn’t even have to carefully think about it and we already have a judgment formed in
our mind.
There is always that tendency to cling or lean towards one side of a person or situation. We have already
formed a predilection without even examining and finding out the real truth behind every person, situation or
a matter. Yes, we tend to be bias in almost anything. We don’t think carefully if we are right in having these
prejudgments. Right there and then, we have our own conclusions and judgments. Consequently, we already
have a preconceived notion which truly affects a person or a situation because we have judged instantly on
that particular aspect.
What then will be left of a person or of something that we have judged instantly? This is plainly a preconceived
notion about a person or a matter. You may have accidentally hurt someone’s feeling and you took the silence
of that person as being angry or maybe planning to get back at you. Whereas, the party involved was just trying
to practice self-control and trying his best on holding on to his temper. That person indeed is trying to learn the
virtue of patience.
Unreasonable predilections or an objection against anything without sufficient grounds would clearly mean
that you are biased. Let not our hasty actions and judgments offend people for you wouldn’t want this to
happen to you. Let us stop being a critic or being like of a juryman for the sole reason that we all commit
mistakes. After all, nobody is perfect. Let us not then have an opinion without just grounds and try our best not
to be prejudice thereby having preconceived notions.
Questions for discussion:
1.
Do you always have a tendency to be prejudice and make an unreasonable judgment? Explain your answer.
2.
Are you not aware of other’s feelings that you are quick to judge making you a biased person? Why or why
not?
3.
Do you believe that to be prejudice is to be discriminating towards a person? Why do you say so?
4.
When was the last time you become very critical and acted prejudice on a person or a matter? Describe
that situation.
5.
Do you agree that prejudice is having a preconceived notion about someone or something? Justify your
answer.