Prejudice Profile Slides Underlying Biases
Analyzing Prejudice in 12 Angry Men
Justice
Psychology
Prejudice
The Vocabulary of Bias
Racial Prejudice
A negative attitude or stereotype directed toward an individual or group based on their perceived race. In the play, this often manifests as "us vs. them" language.
Class Prejudice
Bias against individuals based on their economic status or neighborhood. Often seen in assumptions about the defendant's upbringing in "the slums."
"Prejudice always obscures the truth." — Juror 8
Juror 10
PROFILE: EXPLICIT BIAS
Views the defendant as part of a nameless, faceless group ("them").
Argues that people from the defendant's background lack human empathy.
"Look, you know how these people lie. It's born in them... They don't need any big reason to kill someone, either."
Juror 4
Profile: Class Prejudice
"The children who come out of slum backgrounds are potential menaces to society."
The Facilitators of Injustice
Juror 3
"We're trying to put a guilty man in the chair where he belongs."
Motivation: Anger toward his own son projected onto the defendant. He views the "younger generation" with general contempt.
Juror 7
"What's the difference? Let's get out of here."
Motivation: Self-interest and a dismissive attitude toward the defendant's life. He believes "these people" aren't worth his time.
Critical Inquiry
Does a juror's prejudice automatically make their analysis of facts incorrect, or does it simply prevent them from considering "reasonable doubt"?
Prejudice Profile Worksheet Case File: Juror Bias Assessment
Subject: Reginald Rose's 12 Angry Men (Acts I & II)
Name:
Date:
Part I: Identifying the Bias
1. A juror says that children from "slum backgrounds are potential menaces to society." This is an example of:
A) Racial prejudice
B) Class prejudice (Wealth/Status)
C) Logical reasoning
D) Apathy (Not caring)
2. Juror 10 often talks about "those people" and says they "don't value human life." What type of prejudice is he showing?
A) Personal anger at his son
B) Reasonable doubt
C) Racial/Ethnic prejudice
D) Kindness and empathy
3. Juror 7 wants to leave quickly for a baseball game. Why is this lack of care dangerous to the defendant?
A) It shows he doesn't value the defendant's life as much as his own fun.
B) It shows he is a big fan of the Yankees.
C) It means he is the most intelligent juror.
4. Juror 3 is very angry at the "younger generation." What is the main reason for this bias?
A) He hates the slum where the boy grew up.
B) He has a painful relationship with his own son.
C) He wants to go home early.
D) He thinks the boy is innocent.
Part II: Collecting Evidence
Find one quote from the play for each juror that shows their bias. Explain why they feel that way.
Juror One Quote or Action Why do they feel this way? Juror 10 (Racial) Juror 4 (Class)
Part III: Thinking Deeper
1. How does being prejudiced (having a closed mind) make it harder for a juror to find the real truth in a trial?
2. Which juror do you think is harder to argue with: Juror 10 (who yells and is clearly angry) or Juror 4 (who stays calm and acts like he is just being logical)? Why?
Prejudice Profile Answer Key Teacher Answer Key
Case File: Juror Bias Assessment
Subject: Reginald Rose's 12 Angry Men (Acts I & II)
Part I: Identification of Bias (Answers)
1
B) Class prejudice (Wealth/Status)
— This refers to poverty and slums.
2
C) Racial/Ethnic prejudice
— Using "those people" shows he sees them as different and "less than."
3
A) It shows he doesn't value the defendant's life...
— His lack of care is a bias against the "importance" of the boy.
4
B) He has a painful relationship with his own son.
— He is taking out his personal anger on the defendant.
Part II: Collecting Evidence (Samples)
Juror One Quote or Action Why do they feel this way? Juror 10 (Racial) "They're against us, they're wild animals... they don't value life like we do." He is a bigot who believes people of the defendant's race/ethnicity are naturally violent and "different" from himself. Juror 4 (Class) "Slums are breeding grounds for criminals... children from slum backgrounds are potential menaces." He believes being poor makes a person more likely to be a criminal. He looks down on the defendant because of where he lives.
Part III: Thinking Deeper (Sample Ideas)
1. How does being prejudiced make it harder to find the truth?
When someone has a closed mind, they only see facts that agree with what they already believe. They ignore evidence that might prove they are wrong because they have already decided the person is "guilty" because of their race or status.
2. Who is harder to argue with: Juror 10 or Juror 4?
Students might argue Juror 4 is harder because he seems "logical" and calm, making his bias sound like common sense. Others might say Juror 10 is harder because he is too angry to listen to reason.
