“Most people know and have experienced prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination. Social psychologists distinguish between these terms by focusing on whether they involve feelings (affect), cognition, or behaviors. (Feenstra, J. 2013) As individuals we tend to migrate towards those who may think or act like us because this may cause hatred towards anyone who is different. This can inhibit social interaction with those outside our comfort zone. Often there are consequences that affect your feelings towards other people and that prevent you from truly knowing them. Being taken from my home at the tender age of ten gave me a first-hand account of dependence on the state. Personally I can say that government workers cannot escape the system or how others see them. Foster care meant I was often judged and stripped of everything I knew. I was forced to live my life as a state employee; however, I overcome everyone's doubts and negativity. Life as a state employee has taught me to stay close to those who may look or behave like me because it could be a source of hatred towards us from anyone who is different from us. In the American Academy of Pediatrics text, prejudice is described as “irrational judgment or generalization about an entire category of people.” (Pediatrics, 2007.) Have you ever found yourself in the midst of judging someone because of stereotypes? I know I've been guilty of it. Discrimination means “treating or acting unfairly towards particular categories of people”. (Pediatrics, 2007.) The Project Research Consortium states that “prejudice and discrimination are negative manifestations of integrative power.” Prejudice and discrimination drive people apart instead of uniting them or keeping them together.... middle of paper... leave them. I find it sad that young people in general make judgments about others without ever having met them. I am convinced that with the help of parents and teachers, prejudices, stereotypes and discrimination can be overcome one person at a time. I finally escaped the stereotypes and negative views caused by the foster care system. Works Cited Feenstra, J. (2013). Social Psychology (2nd ed.) Bridgepoint Education, Inc.Prejudice. (2007, June). Retrieved from the American Academy of Pediatrics: http://www.aap.org/publiced/BK5_Prejudice.htmPrejudice and Discrimination. (1998). Retrieved from Conflict Research Consortium: http://www.colorado.edu/conflitti/peace/problem/prejdisc.htmPrejudice and Discrimination In Public Schools. (2001). Retrieved from Public School Parents Network: http://www.psparents.net/Prejudice%20&%20Discrimination.htm