Biological Bases of Prejudice
| DOI | 10.1177/019251218700800209 |
| Author | Heiner Flohr |
| Date | 01 April 1987 |
| Published date | 01 April 1987 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
183-
Biological
Bases
of
Prejudice
HEINER
FLOHR
ABSTRACT.
Our
knowledge
of
the
causes
of
social
prejudice
is
insuflicient;
conventional
sociological
and
psychological
approaches
should
be
com-
plemented
by
a
search
for
biological
causes.
Evolutionary
theory
can
explain
why
there
is
a
need
for
prejudices.
The
formation
of
prejudices
is
supported
by
some
characteristics
of
our
cognitive
apparatus.
Apart
from
that,
behavioural
tendencies
such
as
group
orientation
and
xenophobia,
as
well
as
the
biologically
rooted
rejection
of
outsiders,
contribute
to
the
formation
of
prejudices.
Prejudices
are
hard
to
fight
because
of
their
biological
basis,
but
insight
into
this
element
may
indicate
effective
countermeasures.
In
this
paper
prejudice
is
broadly
defined
as
a
construct
based
on
insufficient
empirical
evidence.
It
includes
patterns
of
perception,
interpretation,
evaluation
and
action
which
are
relatively
immune
to
criticism
and
change.
A
prejudice
(in
this
sense)
has
a
cognitive,
an
afl’ective,
and,
under
certain
conditions,
a
conative
aspect.
Behavioural
scientists
disagree
on
the
causes
of
prejudice.
Psychologists
generally
look
for
causes
located
inside
the
individual,
and
sociologists
focus
on
social
factors.
I
prefer
to
start
with
the
biological
factors
which
might
be
involved.
The
known
sociological
and
psychological
approaches
will
not
be
replaced
by
biological
explanations,
but
they
should
be
complemented
by
a
comprehensive
biocultural
understanding
(Flohr,
1986).
The
Need
for
Prejudices
All
living
beings
must
solve
their
problems
of
survival-that
is
the
task
to
which
they
are
adapted
biologically.
This
task
shapes
the
entire
organism,
including
morphology,
physiology,
perceptual
abilities,
instincts,
and-depending
on
the
level
of
development-emotions
and
intelligence.
It
is
the
function
of
this
equipment
to
enable
the
individual
or
the
species
to
behave
in
its
environment
in
a
biologically
successful
way.
To
cope
with
their
&dquo;problems,&dquo;
animals
receive
guidance
from:
(a)
genetic
programming;
(b)
innate
maturation
programmes
in
combination
with
environmental
stimuli
(e.g.
imprinting);
(c)
imitation
of
their
conspecifics;
and,
(d)
their
own
primary
experience.
This
system
of
behavioural
guidance
is
a
balanced
combination
of
elements
fixed
by
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