Is bigotry a mental disorder?

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

It is a learned behavior that, fortunately, can be unlearned.

I agree people can unlearn behaviors. I also think it's all mixed up with a little bit of an obsessive compulsive disorder that comes from fear

This is not me saying that people who suffer from OCD are bigots

I know a man that has a kind of obsessive fear of germs, and rodents, insects (especially mosquitoes) and immigrants. He cannot let any of those subjects go. Not for a day - or an hour

Here's the interesting part..he has a lot of foreign friends. Some of them are from the same groups of people that he fears the most

It's not the individuals he hates. It's the idea of vulnerability and invasion I think

There's not enough antibacterial soap or a wall high enough that will ever make him feel safe or clean

a reply to: olddognewtricks

I notice that you're still ruminating about it today. So what does that tell you in light of your observations?

I'd already moved on from your thread.

a reply to: ketsuko

I'd already moved on from your thread.

You did?

:-)

a reply to: Spiramirabilis

Yes, I had until I made the mistake of looking at the OP's rant.