There are many different types of ethnic and racial groups in our country. The number of different races are more prominent than what there was a century ago. The way we react to other people has changed as well. People often react towards other people’s racial backgrounds because of reason that may have occurred personally, or due to worldwide situations. Reactions have a huge impact on prior experiences, situations, and events that can change how we perceived people of different races. These experiences can be negative or positive, but can change the way we react to others due to that specific reason or event.
“Operant conditioning is a psychological term that related to how behavior can relate to stimuli” . This type of behavior can also be present when discussing people and race. Different racial groups such as the Ku Klutz Klan were against the African American race. This type of behavior was taught in relation to hate and cruelty amongst the African American race. It was not a personal behavior that was created towards one individual but the whole race as a whole.
After the attack on the twin towers on September 11, 2001 society has a different look towards Muslim people. The terrorism that occurred that day changed the way society accepted Muslims into our society. People now will go the opposite direction if a foreign individual who may resemble a Muslim comes their direction. This reaction to people after the terrorist attack was learned because of the horrific crime that was committed on our country.
If a person experiences a tragic incident involving someone of a different race; then that person will look differently at anyone of that race. People are more cautious, and skeptical now because of the terror that occurred in this country. The same instances are based toward hate groups who stereotype a certain race to commit hate crimes towards. If a person is learned, taught, or experience there heritage committing hate towards a group of people then that person will more than likely continue that behavior in the future.
Reference
Huitt, W. (2009). Operant Conditioning. Psychology Behavior, 1-4.
