Affective Factors in the Manifestation of Discriminatory Attitudes of the Personality in Behavior

Abstract

The paper presents the results of an empirical study of affective factors in the manifestation of discriminatory attitudes of a person in behavior. The analysis revealed the following facts. As an affective basis for discriminatory behavior, negative emotional reactions towards people with non-traditional sexual behavior and politicians are expressed. Positive and/or altruistic emotions are associated with pensioners, children, adolescents, people with disabilities, handicapped people, representatives of other ethnic groups and religions, victims of crime, members of the opposite sex, physically unattractive people and people with low income. In relation to persons of no fixed abode and people with mental disorders, conflicting affective reactions are manifested: from sympathy and pity to anxiety and disgust. The strength of prejudice has a broad affective determination for the following social groups: migrants, representatives of other ethnic groups, physically unattractive people, representatives of another social community and youth subcultures. However, only in relation to representatives of youth subcultures, broad affective determination is the real basis for the increase in the strength of discriminatory attitudes and the manifestation of discriminatory behavior associated with the restriction of their activity.