An extreme form of prejudice and discrimination in which people are judged and classified in advance by skin color or ethnic origin, without regard to their individual abilities or actual behavior.
Causes of racism:
1) Prejudice and socialization: habituation to belong to certain groups and prejudice against others.
2) Ignorance and lack of knowledge: Lack of contact with other cultures reinforces stereotypes.
3) Power and Domination: The use of race as a tool to justify discrimination and preserve economic and social privilege.
4) Fear of others or competition for resources: A sense of threat leads to the adoption of racist attitudes.
5) Historical and political contexts: Policies of racial segregation and discrimination form a persistent racist culture.