Ennakkoluuloihin

Ennakkoluuloihin is the Finnish plural illative form of ennakkoluulo, typically translated as prejudices or biases. In Finnish discourse the term is used to describe the attitudes and beliefs about people or groups that are not grounded in direct experience or evidence, and that influence judgments, emotions, and behavior.

Prejudices arise through a combination of cognitive shortcuts, socialization, and exposure to stereotypes. They can be reinforced by cultural norms, media representations, and unequal social structures. While some prejudices are explicit and consciously endorsed, many are implicit and operate below conscious awareness, shaping perceptions and actions in everyday situations.

The effects of ennakkoluuloihin are wide-ranging. They can lead to discrimination in education, employment, housing, and public services, and contribute to social exclusion, conflict, and reduced opportunities for affected groups. Even when individuals believe themselves to be fair, prejudices can bias decision making and interpersonal interactions, often sustaining inequality across generations.

Research and policy efforts aim to identify and reduce prejudices. Approaches include education that promotes critical thinking and intercultural understanding, structured intergroup contact under favorable conditions, perspective-taking and counter-stereotypical exposure, and media literacy. Measurement of prejudices typically combines self-report surveys, behavioral observations, and implicit assessment methods to capture both explicit and hidden biases.

See also: prejudice, stereotyping, discrimination, bias, intergroup contact, social psychology.