a negative mental or emotional attitude towards a particular person or group based on characteristics such as race, religion, gender, culture, nationality or social class, without relying on direct knowledge or objective assessment of behavior or character. It is often accompanied by strong emotions, such as hatred, resentment, or fear, and can lead to hostile or discriminatory behavior.
The main aspects of bias are:
1) Cognitive dimension: includes preconceived beliefs and assumptions about the characteristics of another group. It manifests itself in generalizing negative traits to all members of the group, which reinforces stereotypes and misconceptions. Example: the belief that all members of a certain group are lazy or aggressive, without concrete evidence.
2) Affective dimension: it is associated with negative feelings towards people from another group, such as anger, fear, disgust or hostility. These feelings are often strong and influence decisions and behavior towards the target group.
3) Behavioral dimension: manifested in actions directed against another group, whether verbal (insults, insults) or practical (discrimination in employment, violence, social exclusion). Intolerance can exacerbate social conflicts, collective violence and divide society.