Read the passage and answer the question that follow :
Namita is studying in London. Being an Indian she faces a variety of discriminatory behavior on an everyday basis. For instance, Namita had an Economics examination in the morning. While she was revising her notes outside the exam hall one of her classmates, Jessica commented that, "You are from a country of snake charmers, I do not think advanced Economics concepts are your cup of tea". Namita felt bad and started to think it over. Although she was prepared well for her exam but due to nervousness, she was not able to perform well in the exam and failed. Seeing her result, other students started to call her "Know Nothing Namita". Some students started bullying other Indian students also without provocation. This instance led the students of other nationalities to believe that there must be some truth in what everyone says about Indians.
How can Jessica's attitude towards Indians be changed?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Increasing intergroup contact
Jessica’s attitude is a prejudice built on a stereotype about Indians (‘a country of snake charmers’). A way of changing it must weaken that stereotype.
Option (1) By punishing Jessica — Incorrect. Punishment may stop the remark for a while, but it does not change the belief behind it; Jessica would still hold the same picture of Indians, and may even resent them more.
Option (2) By telling other students that Jessica is a bad girl — Incorrect. This only labels Jessica, which is itself a kind of name-calling. It gives her no new information about Indians, so her attitude stays as it is.
Option (3) Increasing intergroup contact — Correct. Increasing intergroup contact allows direct communication, removes mistrust between the groups and can lead to the discovery of positive qualities in the outgroup. If Jessica works with Indian students in a cooperative setting, on an equal footing, she can see for herself that the stereotype is false.
Option (4) By forcing Namita to work hard in her studies — Incorrect. This puts the burden on the victim of the prejudice, not on the person who holds it, and forcing her adds pressure. Jessica’s attitude is not touched.
NCERT (2025-26): “Strategies for Handling Prejudice … These goals can be accomplished through : •
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