What is the term for when a prejudicial thought is put into action?

The concept of discrimination refers to the actions or behaviors that arise from prejudicial thoughts or attitudes toward a particular group of people. While prejudice involves an unfair or negative belief about a certain group, discrimination takes it a step further by manifesting this belief through actions that treat individuals unequally based on their membership in that group.

For example, if someone believes that individuals from a specific racial background are less capable and then acts upon that belief by refusing to hire qualified candidates from that group, that action constitutes discrimination. This distinction emphasizes that discrimination is the observable behavior resulting from the underlying prejudicial thought. On the other hand, stigma relates more to the societal perception and labeling of certain groups, while bias may pertain to a preference or inclination, which doesn't necessarily involve action.