Ravi grew up in a Bihar town where his elders often mocked people from a neighbouring district; he now shares their views. In college he cheers loudly for his district's student group and calls students from the other district careless and rude. He feels tense and hostile, and cannot settle down, when working with them. When a friend says most of them are hardworking, Ravi names two who once missed a deadline and says that is enough for him. Some of those students, told for years that they are lazy, have stopped trying in class. When the town's mill closed, many locals blamed the few families from that district, who were too few to answer back.
Ravi keeps his view of the other district's students because two of them once missed a deadline. Which idea explains his reply to his friend?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Kernel of truth concept
Option (1) Kernel of truth concept — Correct. By the kernel of truth idea, people keep a stereotype because they think there must be some truth in what everyone says. Even a few examples are enough to support it, as two missed deadlines are for Ravi.
Option (2) Scapegoating — Incorrect. Scapegoating is blaming a weak minority for the majority's own problems. Ravi is not blaming the students for any loss; he is defending his view with examples.
Option (3) Learning — Incorrect. Learning explains where a prejudice comes from, such as family or media. His reply is about how he keeps the view alive.
Option (4) Social identity and ingroup bias — Incorrect. Ingroup bias is boosting one's own group by holding negative views of others. His reply rests on a few examples.
NCERT (2026-27): “PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION … “• Kernel of truth concept : Sometimes people may continue to hold stereotypes because they think that, after all, there must be some truth, or ‘kernel of truth’ in what everyone says about the other group. Even a few examples are sufficient to support the ‘kernel of truth’ idea.” |