What does adaptive discrimination refer to?

Adaptive discrimination refers to the phenomenon whereby an individual's discriminatory behavior is shaped by the prejudices and biases of others in their social environment. This concept emphasizes that discrimination is not solely an individual decision or intrinsic belief but can be a response to the collective attitudes and expectations of a group or community.

For instance, if a person observes others in their social circle engaging in discriminatory behavior or expressing biased opinions, they may feel compelled to conform to these norms, leading them to adopt similar discriminatory attitudes or actions. This type of discrimination can occur in various forms such as workplace dynamics, social interactions, and systemic practices.

The other options reflect different concepts that do not align with the idea of adaptive discrimination. For example, discrimination based on formal policies refers more to institutional or systematic forms of bias. The promotion of equal opportunities contradicts the essence of discrimination itself and thus cannot be considered adaptive discrimination. Direct harassment motivated by personal bias addresses individual-level aggression rather than the influence of social norms and collective attitudes on discriminatory behavior.