AS A SOCIAL PROBLEM IN AMERICA TODAY, PREJUDICE CAN BE DEFINED EXCLUSIVELY IN TERMS OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR WHICH DENIES OR ATTEMPTS TO DENY EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY OR STATUS TO CERTAIN RACIAL, RELIGIOUS, OR ETHNIC GROUPS. PREJUDICE IS CONSIDERED A SOCIAL PROBLEM BECAUSE IT PRESENTS A THREAT TO SOCIAL ORDER BY BREAKING DOWN HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS, RESULTS IN A WASTE OF HUMAN RESOURCES, AND IS A THREAT TO DEMOCRATIC LIFE. PREJUDICED BEHAVIOR IS NOT PREDETERMINED BY PREJUDICED ATTITUDES BUT BY THE SOCIAL SITUATIONS IN WHICH A PERSON LIVES. THE PATTERN OF COMMUNITY PRACTICES, FOR EXAMPLE, IS THE BASIS FOR MANY PREJUDICES. SEGREGATED SCHOOLS, BUSES, AND WAITING ROOMS, COMPLETE SOCIAL SEGREGATION, HABITS OF DEFERENCE, THE EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT STATUS OF MINORITY GROUPS, AND THE PHILOSOPHY OF MASS MEDIA ARE AMONG THESE COMMUNITY PRACTICES. SOCIAL PATTERNS, IN TURN, DIRECTLY INFLUENCE THE HOME ATTITUDES WHICH SO GREATLY SHAPE THE ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR OF CHILDREN. THE CUSTOM OF PREJUDICE, ONCE EXAMINED AND UNDERSTOOD, MAY BE CHANGED THROUGH REMEDIAL SOCIAL ACTION. SUCH CHANNELS OF SOCIAL ACTION AS THE LAW, MASS MEDIA, THE SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS MAY HELP TO EFFECT THIS CHANGE. IN ADDITION, THE INDIVIDUAL SHOULD EXAMINE AND ATTEMPT TO UNDERSTAND HIS OWN BEHAVIOR AND ATTITUDE.