What term refers to an unjustifiable negative attitude toward a group and its members?

The term that accurately refers to an unjustifiable negative attitude toward a group and its members is prejudice. Prejudice encompasses a range of negative feelings and beliefs about individuals based solely on their membership in a particular group, such as racial, ethnic, gender, or social categories. This concept highlights the emotional response that can lead to discrimination and stereotyping, but it is specifically focused on the attitudinal aspect.

Discrimination, on the other hand, refers to the actual behaviors and actions that treat individuals unfairly based on their group membership, rather than the negative feelings or beliefs themselves. Bias typically indicates a tendency to favor or disfavor one group over another, but it can sometimes be more neutral and not necessarily unjustifiable. Stereotypes are oversimplified and generalized beliefs about a group, which can be positive or negative and do not inherently carry the negative connotation that prejudice does. Therefore, prejudice is the most appropriate term for an unjustifiable negative attitude directed towards a group.