Four cases of prejudice and discrimination towards another group are described below. Identify the odd one out.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → A clerk has no dislike for a caste but refuses its members a form because his boss told him to
Option (1) Meena dislikes a particular community but treats its members politely at work — Incorrect. This is prejudice without discrimination. Meena feels dislike, the emotional part of prejudice, but she does not act on it at work.
Option (2) A clerk has no dislike for a caste but refuses its members a form because his boss told him to — Correct. This is the odd one: discrimination without prejudice. The clerk feels no dislike, yet he treats the caste worse by refusing the form. Discrimination is the behavioural part, and here it comes from his boss's order.
Option (3) Arun believes that people of a certain region are lazy, yet he hires them on merit — Incorrect. Also prejudice without discrimination. Arun holds a stereotype, a belief about the whole group, yet his behaviour is fair because he hires on merit.
Option (4) Sunita thinks a religious group is dishonest, yet she rents her flat to a family from it — Incorrect. Again prejudice without discrimination. Sunita's belief that the group is dishonest is a stereotype, but she still rents her flat to the family.
NCERT (2026-27): “PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION … |