Since all humans can learn and adapt, it is hoped that acceptance and understanding can replace prejudice and discrimination. To help in achieving this goal, the educational system has introduced courses on and disseminated information about cultural diversity and has included more faculty members of the less prevalent (minority) races and cultures. Cultures vary widely in their rules for acceptable and expected behavior as well as in the ways they guide the development of the individual. Knowing people from different cultures is one of the most effective ways of combating the formation of negative stereotypes and the development of prejudice. Courses on the psychology of racism examine the major terms and issues in psychology that pertain to race and racism in the United States and the general principles of racism that are universal.
