Group-difference beliefs only become problematic when they justify prejudice

Evidence

Allport and other prominent theorists argued early on that the fundamental problem in intergroup relations was the intense feeling of antipathy and prejudice that can be associated with outgroups. They argued that beliefs about the existence of group differences were not in and of themselves problematic. Rather, those beliefs became problematic only in the service of prejudice, when they served to justify prejudicial attitudes. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 843

Categorization

• DEFINE: Clarifies the Allport line that difference-beliefs are not the problem; only their conscription into justifying animosity is.
• corroborated: 3 independent passages support this claim — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 843
• XREF: connects to: Outgroup difference threatens the death-buffering worldview, driving defensive prejudice — Jeff Greenberg and Spee Kosloff, Terror Management Theory: Implications…, 29; the MOC “The Enemy-Making Machine: Ours, True, and the Identity That Defends Both”