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CONNECTION BETWEEN FEAR AND DISCRIMINATION.
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Discusses the relationship between fear and racial or ethnic discrimination as complicated.... More...
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Paper Abstract:
Discusses the relationship between fear and racial or ethnic discrimination as complicated. Connection to one's cultural world and values. Forms of discrimination against African Americans (workplace, community) & against other ethnic groups. Fear of social violence. Low self-esteem and the emotion of fear, and fear based on concrete situations. How differences trigger fear. Police reactions.

Paper Introduction:
The emotion of fear is an essential part of human development and experience. For adults, fear sends crucial messages to the mind about potential dangers and reflects an individual’s emotional vulnerability about certain issues or situations (Owen, 1998, p. 483). Various individuals can develop a wide range of fears towards many objects and situations, such as fear of heights and open spaces. However, while some fears can be considered a regular part of a healthy normal life, fears that are related to abuse and discriminatory situations can have a debilitating effect on the overall well-being of the individuals concerned (Owen, 1998, p. 483). In this essay, the complex connection between the emotion of fear and discrimination will be explored. Racial or ethnic discrimination is used because it is also manifested in other forms of discr

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481). Social Problems, 45(4), 473-488.Cuellar, I., & Roberts, R. Mediating discrimination. 475).Unfortunately, this fear of the difference and unknown can result in tragicsituations, especially with law enforcement officials. Relations of depression, acculturation, and socioeconomic status in a Latino sample. 239). They are notafraid that they will lose their identity (Byng, 1998, p. In addition, they are less fearful about their existencewhen they are reinforced by the values of their cultural world, thus givingthem greater self-esteem. In this essay, the complex connection between the emotion of fearand discrimination will be explored. Such unfair practices can erode away self-esteem and self-confidence (Byng, 1998, p. Terror management and self-awareness. The consequences ofdiscrimination that result in economic hardships for ethnic and AfricanAmerican and ethnic families exert a tremendous impact on young children.For young Hispanic children who live in poverty, drive-by shootings, andgangs and drugs top their list of fears. Ethnicstudents, such as a Muslim woman, interviewed in Byng's article (1998),fear for their future because they are intimidated by the prospect ofdiscrimination (p. ReferencesArndt, J., Greenberg, J., Simon, L., Pyszczynski, T., & Solomon, S. 483). Variousindividuals can develop a wide range of fears towards many objects andsituations, such as fear of heights and open spaces. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 2 (4), 483-492. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 72, 24-36.Owen, P. R. The forms of discriminationagainst African Americans include social exclusion, discriminations insalary and promotions, and unpleasant working conditions (Byng, 1998, p.48 ). E. 474).Constant exposure to discriminatory experiences can deplete self-esteem. Unless they are workingin their own community, African and ethnic Americans are surrounded by acultural world with different values. With discrimination, they are made tofeel that they are lesser than others in this hostile environment andincapable of achieving the standards and values of this world. (1998, November). 473). Because ofthe police reaction, African Americans and ethnic minorities also have asense of fear towards police and whites. 481). Most human beings possess a natural sense ofterror towards their own mortality. D. The relationship between the emotion of fear and discrimination iscomplicated and indirect. 483). 484). In short, discrimination often occurs simplybecause difference triggers fear about the unknown (Byng, 1998, p. In the '9 s, childrenhave been the unfortunate targets of aggression that stems from racialprejudice and discrimination. In order to overcome the low self-esteem and fear that arise throughracial discrimination, African and ethnic Americans have created a socialspace where their values are reflected in the environment (Byng, 1998, p.483). For example, an African American woman who topped her orientationclass in a programming company was assigned to the most unpleasant job inthe group. Terror management theory and self-esteem. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 19(2), 23 -239.Harmon-Jones, E., Simon, L., Greenberg, J., Pyszczynski, T., Solomon, S., & McGregor, H. In myopinion, it is crucial for authorities, institutions and organizations toconfront directly the issue of racial or ethnic discrimination and addressthe fundamental injustices underlying the problems that are contributing tothe tragedy of ethnic violence. Police commonlypossess a racially stereotypical perspective about criminals. Muslims celebrate traditional events,births and marriages in the Islamic community. Through their activities,their perceptions about their identities are reaffirmed. Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin, 24(11), 1216-1228.Byng, M. 1216). 1228). This list reflects their lack ofsecurity in a world that have not provided good values and proper standardsof behavior (Owen, 1998, p. The list of fears comes from children who have personallyexperienced these situations (Owen, 1998, p. However, while somefears can be considered a regular part of a healthy normal life, fears thatare related to abuse and discriminatory situations can have a debilitatingeffect on the overall well-being of the individuals concerned (Owen, 1998,p. According toresearch studies cited in Byng's article (1998), African Americans confrontdiscrimination at their workplaces, schools and in public on a daily basis.For African Americans, these cumulative confrontations can reach theproportions of a life crisis for them (p. On the other hand, lower levels of self-esteemincrease anxiety responses (Harmon-Jones et al., 1997). They are aptto react more aggressively to African Americans and ethnic minorities thanto whites because of their innate fear that they would be hurt. (1998, November). People fromdifferent racial groups need to be able to meet each other on the streetswithout fearing for their lives or others' negative reactions. Their fears of social violence are notunfounded. The emotion of fear is an essential part of human development andexperience. People develop a self-image and shapetheir identity according to their life experiences (Byng, 1998, p. 49 ). For adults, fear sends crucial messages to the mind aboutpotential dangers and reflects an individual's emotional vulnerabilityabout certain issues or situations (Owen, 1998, p. (1997). Therefore, individuals who discriminate against othersact in this fashion because they do not understand other cultural worlds(Arndt et al., 1998, p. African Americans and ethnicminorities fear that they may jeopardize their lives and well-being simplyby being "in the wrong place at the wrong time." People are usually afraid of what is unknown or unfamiliar to them.Members of different cultural groups can tear down these barriers andovercome their fear by bridging the gap that separates them. Although these children do not realizethat they suffer from discrimination, their lives are a significant resultof the discrimination in society. Racial or ethnic discrimination isused because it is also manifested in other forms of discrimination thatoccurs in the workplace and interrelationships. (1997, May). The recent attack on the Jewish communitycenter testifies to the extent in which children are affected bydiscrimination. (1998, November). Therefore, one of the key buffers against theemotion of fear is self-esteem. Research studies have shown that higherlevels of self-esteem lower anxiety or anxiety-related defenses in responseto perceived dangers. Not only do they possess the fear of mortality, theybegin to develop fear and uncertainty about the world they live in. While adults experience fear through the depletion of their self-esteem and self-image, young children and people in ethnic neighborhoodsexperience fear towards concrete situations. 484). Such environments include families and friends who provide asanctuary from discrimination and consolidate their cultural identities andindividuality (Byng, 1998, p. According to researchers, this fear isassuaged by their connection to their cultural world-a meaningful andsymbolic order that rewards them when they act in accordance with itsstandards of behavior (Arndt, Greenberg, Simon, Pyszczynski, & Solomon,1998, p. Individuals who confront racial discrimination live in a culturalworld that constantly batters at their self-esteem. Fears of Hispanic and Anglo children: Real- world fears in the 199 s. 1228). Asdiscussed above, people with low self-esteem have the propensity to producethe emotion of fear. 49 ). It is little wonder that in a study conducted onMexican Americans, researchers found that acculturation is a significantfactor in reducing depressive symptoms (Cuellar & Roberts, 1997, p. From the perspective of the perpetrators of discrimination, the senseof terror over their mortality pushes them towards aggression towardspeople who do not share their worldview and cultural traditions (Arndt etal., 1998, p.

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