Which form of discrimination occurs in interpersonal interactions rather than institutional settings?

• A. Institutional discrimination
• B. Cultural discrimination
• C. Structural discrimination
• D. Individual discrimination

Answer: (D)

Discrimination carried out through everyday, face-to-face interactions is individual discrimination. It shows up in how a person treats someone else, speaks to them, or decides to help or deny services based on that person’s group membership. This micro-level pattern contrasts with institutional discrimination, which is built into the rules and practices of organizations; cultural discrimination, which is expressed through widely shared beliefs and norms in a culture; and structural discrimination, which comes from how multiple systems and institutions interact to create unequal outcomes. So when the focus is on personal interactions rather than policies or institutions, the form described is individual discrimination.