prasangka

Prasangka is a mental attitude in Indonesian that refers to an opinion or feeling formed beforehand about a person, group, or situation, without adequate evidence or direct experience. It can take the form of a prejudice, a preconceived notion, or an assumption. The term is often used with a negative connotation, as it frequently leads to unfair judgments or discrimination, though it can also describe benign expectations in some contexts (prasangka baik). The word derives from the Indonesian root sangka "to think or suppose" with the prefix pra- meaning before.

Prasangka is shaped by socialization, stereotypes, media exposure, and cognitive biases such as confirmation bias and the fundamental attribution error. It can be explicit, openly stated, or implicit, reflected in quick judgments without conscious awareness. Cultural norms and personal experiences influence how strong a person’s prasangka becomes toward others.

In social life, prasangka can hinder trust, cooperation, and equal treatment, and it can fuel gossip, exclusion, or conflict. It often arises toward groups based on ethnicity, religion, gender, or other markers, but it can affect judgments about individuals as well. Prasangka is a common target of education and intervention because it can perpetuate social divisions and hinder fair judgment.

Reducing prasangka involves awareness and critical evaluation of evidence, deliberate exposure to diverse groups, perspective-taking, and media literacy. Educational programs, dialogue, fair policies, and consistent institutional practices can help mitigate prejudicial attitudes and promote more nuanced understanding of others.

See also: prejudice, bias, stereotype, discrimination.