Editorial Race and
Prejudice
The need for more general knowledge on prejudice has been felt and its particular influence in the field of national and racial tensions must be evident to all. Scientific study itself has been surprisingly meagre, and even what is known has not been available in non-technical language.
long
We can therefore welcome two recent publications of unesco in the series "The Race Question in Modern Science" which deal succinctly with these problems?"The Roots of Prejudice" by Professor Arnold Rose, and "Race and Psychology" by Professor Otto Klineberg.* The former?which is better read first?discusses the causes of prejudice, and outlines the advantages, material and psychological, which a prejudice confers on its possessor. Of these, the "imperialistic" attitude is well known, has been seen often enough in the past and is decried enough at the present time. What is less widely realised is the psychological satisfaction obtained by the individual's own feelings by keeping his prejudices alive on What applies to the individual applies also a number of subjects. to the group or to the nation.
The causes of war (and individual antagonism) are still obscure. Some blame armament makers and hold that if it is to anyone's advantage to sell (and therefore to increase the demand for) weapons, he is likely to encourage war. But the maintenance of prejudice is apparently just as beneficial to its owner and just as dangerous in leading to hostility-?and hostilities. The satisfaction derived from prejudice is relatively greater in those who have few other satisfactions. It is thus obviously a temptation for the leaders of any group to attempt to satisfy the members of the group with an easy benefit of this kind, rather than with more lasting and healthy means of self-expression. The behaviour of lower members of the Nazi hierarchy encouraged by playing upon their prejudices against groups, is a recent instance ; other examples can be cited from our own history. The
healthy
answer
to
this is
to
educate
leaders in
everyone?and
particular?to deal with their frustrations in other ways. Logically it would be equally satisfactory to eliminate the frustrations, but this is scarcely practicable before the naturally
millennium. Frustrations desire to vent resulting
must
therefore be understood and the
aggression
on
a
scapegoat
*Obtamable from H.M. Stationery Office, 1/6 each.
54
must
be
recognised and overcome. Aggression may be directed into socially harmless channels, as indeed many of our leisure pursuits are designed to do; or it may be kept within bounds by a system of banners imposed and supported by the group. In a society which prides itself on the rights of the individual, it is not too much to expect him also to consider his responsibilities; and of these, the c^re of his own aggression and the understanding of his own prejudices is paramount.
Prejudice
The need for more general knowledge on prejudice has been felt and its particular influence in the field of national and racial tensions must be evident to all. Scientific study itself has been surprisingly meagre, and even what is known has not been available in non-technical language.
long
We can therefore welcome two recent publications of unesco in the series "The Race Question in Modern Science" which deal succinctly with these problems?"The Roots of Prejudice" by Professor Arnold Rose, and "Race and Psychology" by Professor Otto Klineberg.* The former?which is better read first?discusses the causes of prejudice, and outlines the advantages, material and psychological, which a prejudice confers on its possessor. Of these, the "imperialistic" attitude is well known, has been seen often enough in the past and is decried enough at the present time. What is less widely realised is the psychological satisfaction obtained by the individual's own feelings by keeping his prejudices alive on What applies to the individual applies also a number of subjects. to the group or to the nation.
The causes of war (and individual antagonism) are still obscure. Some blame armament makers and hold that if it is to anyone's advantage to sell (and therefore to increase the demand for) weapons, he is likely to encourage war. But the maintenance of prejudice is apparently just as beneficial to its owner and just as dangerous in leading to hostility-?and hostilities. The satisfaction derived from prejudice is relatively greater in those who have few other satisfactions. It is thus obviously a temptation for the leaders of any group to attempt to satisfy the members of the group with an easy benefit of this kind, rather than with more lasting and healthy means of self-expression. The behaviour of lower members of the Nazi hierarchy encouraged by playing upon their prejudices against groups, is a recent instance ; other examples can be cited from our own history. The
healthy
answer
to
this is
to
educate
leaders in
everyone?and
particular?to deal with their frustrations in other ways. Logically it would be equally satisfactory to eliminate the frustrations, but this is scarcely practicable before the naturally
millennium. Frustrations desire to vent resulting
must
therefore be understood and the
aggression
on
a
scapegoat
*Obtamable from H.M. Stationery Office, 1/6 each.
54
must
be
recognised and overcome. Aggression may be directed into socially harmless channels, as indeed many of our leisure pursuits are designed to do; or it may be kept within bounds by a system of banners imposed and supported by the group. In a society which prides itself on the rights of the individual, it is not too much to expect him also to consider his responsibilities; and of these, the c^re of his own aggression and the understanding of his own prejudices is paramount.
