Biological Psychology Expose

Abstract
This paper explores face recognition with infants as young as two months old and how that recognition has a direct correlation with the evolutionary response encountered when we experience a prejudice emotion.   Then it challenges the idea that a prejudice response is solely a sociological problem and reinforces the neurological components involved.   It ties the effects of high levels of testosterone to increased prejudice and relates altruism to the genetic development of face recognition.   Finally it addresses the necessity of this genetic neurological response for protection but shows how the response is becoming less necessary as society develops.

Prejudice is a biological as well as sociological trait genetically evolved for protection but not so necessary as society progresses.
    What is that gut feeling we all have when we encounter someone who is different then us?   Prejudice starts out as a small emotion and quickly works its way through our body, manifesting as physical sensations.   We develop an increased heart rate, increased breathing, and greater awareness of our surroundings.   In fact our bodies’ reaction can be equated to fear, in a lesser form.   We all experience prejudice feelings at some point in our lives.   Even if we understand the immoral implications of prejudice and we were brought up to believe that prejudice is socially unacceptable.   It’s a widely held belief that social upbringing is responsible for prejudice; however the evolution of genes, designed for survival, are the primary ignition source.   In order to combat prejudice we have to approach the challenge from this genetic ignition source as well as from a sociological perspective.
    Prejudice sensations and reactions initiate themselves shortly after birth.   An infant as young as two days old will innately recognize faces as a greater stimuli than most other objects.   This is known as a “built-in face recognition module” (Kalat, 2009).   An infant will initially... [continues]

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