Which term describes acting on the basis of prejudice by treating people differently based on group membership?

• A. Prejudice
• B. Culture
• C. Discrimination
• D. Stereotyping

Answer: (C)

Discrimination is acting on prejudice by treating people differently based on their group membership. It’s about behavior—the unequal treatment of individuals because of who they are or belong to. Prejudice is an unfounded negative attitude toward a group, and stereotyping is applying a generalized belief about a group to individuals. Culture refers to the shared customs and norms of a group. A concrete example would be denying someone a job because of their race; that shows biased beliefs translated into actions. Discrimination can be carried out by individuals or embedded in systems and policies, making it a broader, actionable form of bias beyond just thoughts or labels.