What best describes a tendency to favor one thing over another, often resulting in unfair treatment?

The term that best describes a tendency to favor one thing over another, often resulting in unfair treatment, is bias. Bias refers to a predisposition or inclination toward a particular viewpoint, idea, group, or individual, which can lead to unfair treatment of others not aligned with that viewpoint. It is an inherent part of human psychology and can manifest in various forms, such as racial, gender, socioeconomic, or ideological biases.

In the context of law enforcement and societal interactions, understanding bias is crucial because it can significantly impact decision-making, interactions with the community, and overall justice. Recognizing personal biases allows officers to strive for objectivity in their duties and eliminate unfair treatment based on these predispositions.

While discrimination involves acting on biases and treating individuals unfairly based on characteristics such as race or gender, bias itself is the underlying attitude that can lead to such discrimination. Prejudice shares similarities with bias but often carries a more emotive connotation, implying an established negative attitude toward a group or individual. Favoritism refers to giving preferential treatment to someone in particular, which isn't necessarily rooted in broader systemic biases but could be more personal or situational. Understanding these nuances helps clarify why bias is the most fitting description in this context.