Formation of Social Prejudice, A Review from the Cognitive and Psychoanalytic Unconscious

Abstract

This article is a theoretical review about the relationship between the unconscious and the formation of social stereotypes and prejudices. As a result, there were some theoretical comparisons that seek to provide some clear ideas about the similarities and differences of the conceptions that psychoanalysis and cognitive psychology have about the unconscious and its relation to social prejudice. Finally, we discuss some experimental studies showing relevant evidences about the unconscious activity in the formation of prejudice, and the implementation of cognitive strategies that tend to reduce prejudice and social stereotypes.

Keywords

• Unconscious
• psychoanalysis
• cognitive psychology
• prejudice
• social stereotypes