Which one of the following strategies is not effective in dealing with prejudice?

The correct option is: Encouraging the tendency towards self-fulfilling prophecy among the victims of prejudice.

To understand why this strategy is ineffective (and actually harmful) in dealing with prejudice, let us break down the concepts step-by-step:

1. Understanding Prejudice and Discriminatory Behavior:
Prejudice involves holding preconceived, negative attitudes toward individuals based solely on their membership in a particular group. Strategies to counter prejudice aim to reduce biased thinking, diminish discrimination, and improve social cohesion between different groups.

2. What is a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy?
A self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when a false belief or expectation leads to behaviors that cause the belief to come true. In the context of prejudice, if victims of prejudice are repeatedly told or treated as if they are inferior, less capable, or prone to failure, they may internalize these negative expectations. Consequently, this internalization can lead to a drop in self-esteem, motivation, and performance, thereby "confirming" the original biased stereotype held by the prepetrators.

3. Why Encouraging Self-Fulfilling Prophecies is Ineffective:
Encouraging or reinforcing a self-fulfilling prophecy among the victims does not reduce prejudice; rather, it perpetuates and strengthens it. It traps the victims in a vicious cycle of negative expectations and underperformance, validating the prejudice in the minds of those who hold it. Therefore, this approach is highly counterproductive.

4. Evaluating the Other Strategies:
Other strategies listed are active and effective ways to combat prejudice:
• Minimising opportunities for learning prejudices: Effective, as it prevents biased stereotypes from being taught or passed down to younger generations.
• Changing discriminatory attitudes: Effective, as it directly targets the cognitive and emotional roots of prejudice.
• De-emphasising a narrow social identity based on the ingroup: Effective, as it encourages people to see themselves as part of a larger, shared superordinate group rather than focusing on "us versus them" divisions.