Islamophobia presents a major problem in the world today and needs to be addressed by researchers, politicians, and social activism. Following all levels of the ecological model can provide appropriate groundwork for a well rounded analysis for combating the effects of racism and anti-Muslim sentiment. Ranging from macrosystem, exosystem, mesosystem, microsystem, to the individual levels, the ecological approach systematic tackles the varying perspectives and contexts affecting discrimination. The macrosystem represents the overall ideologies and attitudes held by a society or culture, and are influenced by all of the other levels of the ecological model. Specific contexts to this level include socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and the level
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The individual plays the most valuable role in preventing the growth of Islamophobia because ultimately, all of the other structures, whether a family unit or government agency, are made up of individuals. The structures of education, government, health, and law can adapt to the agency of individuals who promote positive change if understood properly. This is why it is important for everyone to understand what discrimination, stereotyping, and prejudice are and the consequences they carry. Research has suggested effective ways to avoid the negative aspects of prejudice, such as: disengaging from negative feedback; members of minority groups comparing their outcomes with members of their in-group and not to the out-group; intentionally focusing on dimensions of group characteristics that are positive; and that minorities can increase their identification with their in-group as means to increase self esteem (Sanderson & Safdar, 2012). A study by Harris and Fiske found that if individuals perceive a person to belong to a group that is low in warmth and competence, regions of the brain that show disgust are activated (2006). Dehumanizing of groups and individuals such as Muslims is an ongoing problem that needs to be addressed as recent studies show Islamophobia having a reactive co-radicalization effect (Pratt, 2015). In other words, the radicalization of extremist Muslim actions is creating a counter culture of …show more content…
Through exploration of discrimination, stereotyping, prejudice, and historical events such as 9/11, anti-Muslim sentiment has been found to be a growing problem that is compounded by the influence of groups on the individual and a lack of appropriate education or understanding. Through a review of current literature on the topic, several problems became apparent in regards to combating discrimination towards Muslims, such as a lack of research that is inclusive to a heterogeneous Muslim population, the misrepresentation in mass media, and general societies need to have a scapegoat. While the laws, institutions, and cultures of a society can change to become more inclusive and to reflect qualities of a more well-rounded equality, the primary agent of change can be identified as the individual. As mentioned above, social psychology is the field of psychology that concerns itself with the study of how an individual’s thoughts, beliefs, and behaviours are influenced by the actual or implied presence of another person; through the application of social and cognitive interventions any given individual can access, address, and reduce the frequency and overall incidences of prejudice. Whether through understanding schema formation and psychological anchors, or applying studies and interventions
The individual plays the most valuable role in preventing the growth of Islamophobia because ultimately, all of the other structures, whether a family unit or government agency, are made up of individuals. The structures of education, government, health, and law can adapt to the agency of individuals who promote positive change if understood properly. This is why it is important for everyone to understand what discrimination, stereotyping, and prejudice are and the consequences they carry. Research has suggested effective ways to avoid the negative aspects of prejudice, such as: disengaging from negative feedback; members of minority groups comparing their outcomes with members of their in-group and not to the out-group; intentionally focusing on dimensions of group characteristics that are positive; and that minorities can increase their identification with their in-group as means to increase self esteem (Sanderson & Safdar, 2012). A study by Harris and Fiske found that if individuals perceive a person to belong to a group that is low in warmth and competence, regions of the brain that show disgust are activated (2006). Dehumanizing of groups and individuals such as Muslims is an ongoing problem that needs to be addressed as recent studies show Islamophobia having a reactive co-radicalization effect (Pratt, 2015). In other words, the radicalization of extremist Muslim actions is creating a counter culture of …show more content…
Through exploration of discrimination, stereotyping, prejudice, and historical events such as 9/11, anti-Muslim sentiment has been found to be a growing problem that is compounded by the influence of groups on the individual and a lack of appropriate education or understanding. Through a review of current literature on the topic, several problems became apparent in regards to combating discrimination towards Muslims, such as a lack of research that is inclusive to a heterogeneous Muslim population, the misrepresentation in mass media, and general societies need to have a scapegoat. While the laws, institutions, and cultures of a society can change to become more inclusive and to reflect qualities of a more well-rounded equality, the primary agent of change can be identified as the individual. As mentioned above, social psychology is the field of psychology that concerns itself with the study of how an individual’s thoughts, beliefs, and behaviours are influenced by the actual or implied presence of another person; through the application of social and cognitive interventions any given individual can access, address, and reduce the frequency and overall incidences of prejudice. Whether through understanding schema formation and psychological anchors, or applying studies and interventions