Which of the following is an example of a negative attitude towards people?

Appeared in: UPUMS Nsg.Officer-2024

Explanation

Prejudice is defined as a negative attitude toward the members of a specific social group, based solely on their membership in that group.
It represents the affective (emotional) component of bias, involving feelings such as dislike, hostility, or fear.
Unlike stereotypes (beliefs) or discrimination (actions), prejudice is specifically the internal feeling or attitude.

Option B: Discrimination is a negative behavior or action taken against a group, not the internal attitude itself. It is the behavioral expression of prejudice.
Option C: A stereotype is a generalized belief or cognitive framework about a group. It represents the cognitive component of bias, not the affective (emotional) attitude.
Option D: A prototype is a term from cognitive psychology referring to the most typical example of a category. It is not related to social attitudes or intergroup bias.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Components of Intergroup Bias as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the distinction between prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination is crucial for nurses to recognize and mitigate their own implicit biases, which can unconsciously affect patient care.
By being aware of these concepts, healthcare professionals can strive to provide equitable, non-judgmental care, ensuring that negative attitudes (prejudice) or beliefs (stereotypes) do not translate into unfair treatment (discrimination).
What if a nurse is aware of a personal stereotype but is not prejudiced? For example, a nurse might hold the stereotype that 'young patients ignore medical advice' but feels no personal negativity towards them. This awareness is the first step. The nurse must then consciously act to prevent this stereotype from turning into discriminatory behavior, such as by providing equally thorough education to all patients regardless of age.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept in the question, which is 'negative attitude'.
Recall the three components of social bias, often remembered by the mnemonic ABC: Affective (feelings/attitudes), Behavioral (actions), and Cognitive (beliefs).
Analyze the given options and map them to these components.
Recognize that 'Prejudice' corresponds to the Affective component (attitude).
'Discrimination' corresponds to the Behavioral component (action).
'Stereotype' corresponds to the Cognitive component (belief).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Psychology Baron Misra 5e Part 2 pp. 254-256, 256-258

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 108-110

Practise the full UPUMS Nsg.Officer-2024

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.