What type of discrimination is characterized by overt negative behavior that can include harassment or exclusion?

Conscious discrimination refers to overt and intentional negative behavior directed towards individuals or groups based on their characteristics, such as race, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. This type of discrimination is visible and can manifest in various forms, including harassment, exclusion, and direct actions that clearly express prejudice or hostility.

In contrast, unconscious discrimination occurs without the individual being aware of their biased attitudes or behaviors, often influenced by implicit biases formed through social conditioning. Implicit bias includes unconscious beliefs that individuals hold, which can affect their actions and decisions without them realizing it. Microaggression, on the other hand, consists of subtle, often unintentional, discriminatory comments or actions that can still convey hostility or negative assumptions. While all of these concepts relate to discrimination, conscious discrimination distinctly encapsulates the explicit and deliberate nature of harmful behaviors, making it the correct answer in this context.