discrimination has definitions from the fields of sociology,psychology
1
[ noun ] (sociology) unfair treatment of a person or group on the basis of prejudice

Used in print

(The Dallas Morning News,...)

State and federal legislation against racial discrimination in employment was called_for yesterday in a report of a `` blue_ribbon '' citizens_committee on the aid to dependent children program .

The report called racial discrimination in employment `` one of the most serious causes of family breakdown , desertion , and ADC dependency '' .

The volume of ADC cases will decrease , Martin reported , when the community is able to deal effectively with two problems : Relatively limited skills and discrimination in employment because of color .

(Edward P. Lawton, "Northern Liberals and Southern...)

It is these other differences between North and South - other , that_is , than those which concern discrimination or social_welfare - which I chiefly discuss herein .

2
[ noun ] (psychology) the cognitive process whereby two or more stimuli are distinguished

Synonyms

secernment

Used in print

(Robert E. Lane, The Liberties of Wit: Humanism, Critici...)

Among_other_things it means perception , discrimination , sensitivity to subtle differences .

(Jesse W. Grimes and Wesley Allinsmith, "Compuls...)

The child with high anxiety may first direct his anxiety released energy toward achievement , but because his distress severely reduces the abilities of discrimination and memorization of complex symbols , the child may fail in his initial attempts to master the problem .

The individual with high anxiety in the structured classroom may approach the learning task with the same increased energy and lowered powers of discrimination .

Success reduces the prospect of threat and his powers of discrimination are improved .

(Harold Searles, "Schizophrenic Communication,"...)

Freeman , Cameron and McGhie , in their description of the disturbances of thinking found in chronic schizophrenic patients , say , in regard_to condensation , that `` the lack of adequate discrimination between the self and the environment , and the objects contained therein in itself is the prototypical condensation '' .

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