In some cases, the group that is the target of prejudice is itself responsible for continuing the prejudice. This can be explained as :
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
Option (1) Scapegoating — Incorrect. In scapegoating the majority group places the blame on a minority outgroup for its own social, economic or political problems. The prejudice is kept alive by the majority, not by the target group.
Option (2) Self-Fulfilling Prophecy — Correct. Here the group that is the target of prejudice is itself responsible for continuing it: the target group behaves in ways that confirm the negative expectations. If a group is described as ‘dependent’, its members may actually behave in a way that proves the description true, and so strengthen the existing prejudice.
Option (3) Kernel of Truth — Incorrect. People keep a stereotype because they think there must be some truth in what everyone says about a group. It explains why the prejudiced keep their belief, not how the target group itself keeps the prejudice going.
Option (4) Strong Ingroup Bias — Incorrect. Individuals with a strong social identity and a very positive attitude towards their own group boost it by holding negative attitudes towards other groups. This is a source of prejudice in the prejudiced group, not in the target group.
NCERT (2025-26): “Prejudice and Discrimination … Social psychologists have shown that prejudice has one or more of the following sources :…
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