3. THIS STORY IS ABOUT PRIMARILY ABOUT A FRIENDSHIP
BETWEEN A CHINESE AND INDIAN BOY, & HOW RACISM
& PREJUDICE AFFECTS THIS RELATIONSHIP.
THEY ENTER COLLEGE AND ARE IMMERSED IN A NEW
ENVIRONMENT. THEY ARE INTRODUCED TO NEW PEOPLE.
SOME OF THESE PEOPLE REJECT MUTHU BECAUSE THEY
HAVE BAD PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS INDIANS AND
INSIST THAT CHONG NOT BE WITH MUTHU ANYMORE.
THE EVENTS THAT FOLLOW SHOW THE DYNAMIC
ELEMENTS AT PLAY IN FRIENDSHIPS & PREJUDICES.
SUMMARY
6. CLASSICAL
CONDITIONING
- The more frequently the person is exposure to an
object, the more favorable his attitude towards that
object.
Chong’s first exposure to this group is when the Chinese gangsters invite
Chong out for an event, which he previously presumably had no or little
contact with. When Chong begins to hang out with this new group more
often, increasing the exposure to them, and building attraction to them,
this develops into a deeper relationship with them. In a way, it can be
stated that Chong’s attitude towards these people changed, from neutral,
to positive, as he was exposed to them more often.
7. RACISM
-Discrimination directed to a specific racial group
Chinese gang and lecturer have a bad perception towards Indian. They had perceived Muthu as untrustworthy, due to his
being Indian. They asked Chong not to stay together with Muttu anymore or else Chong should leave the gang.
8. INFLUENCE (SOCIAL
PROOF)
- A person is more likely to be persuaded to a certain
choice if he sees a significant amount of the
community move towards a certain decision
Everyone else told Chong that Indians were not trustworthy, and did not associate with them, he should not either. So, Chong
decides to not to be associated with Muthu anymore, although Muthu was a long time friend, because “everyone” seemed to be
holding certain perceptions towards Indians.
9. SOCIAL LEARNING
- All behaviour is learned through observation, and
learning from other social beings.
Chong learnt, from observation of his friends’ behaviours and schemas in action, that his friend Muthu, who was Indian, was not
to be associated with.
10. VERBAL AGGRESSION
- Behaviour that intends to harm another through insults
and injurious statements
Chinese gangsters had done this after Chong refused to experiment with drugs. This resulted in Chong being insulted and
called many things, including an Indian, which was used as a derogatory term by the Indian gangsters, again displaying their
prejudice towards the race. The aggression was hostile in nature, as it was directly and intentionally meant to injure Chong with
malintent.
11. PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
(ALTRUISTIC MODEL)
- Positive social actions intended to help others for
selfless reasons
Muttu donated his kidney to Chong as Chong lost his kidney during the car accident. Muthu’s intentions are noble, and
selfless, as he had all the reason not to help Chong, but he did anyway.
