Hunter Rohrer 1

Hunter Rohrer
English 111
Instructor: S. Britt
Adult Learning Problem Synthesis Essay
May 7, 2015
Learning to Judge
In todays 21st century, society over time has been thought to be a very judgmental group
of people. Racism, harsh judgement, and discrimination on gender are all major negative
qualities that people in the 21st century have learned and use in their daily lives. This may be a
good attribute, considering people may do it for their own positive protection. Although it may
be used for good, at the same time, the people judged may become offended or even falsely
accused risking the judgers safety. Judgement is formed from a specific frame of reference,
happening every day outside of these works of literature. We as a society should not be the ones
to pass out judgement on others even before getting to know a person. Judgments may likely
come from ingrained perceptions that we as people are raised with.
In the article Transformative Learning: Theory to Practice written by Jack Mezirow,
Mezirow states that, Frames of reference are the structures of assumptions through which we
understand our experiences. They selectively shape and delimit expectations, perceptions,
cognition, and feelings. They set our line of action. (Mezirow 268). This means that our frame
of reference is overall the main source of our judgment. Having a line of action means that

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what we as people were taught to perceive certain aspects of life with a specific judgment,
sticking with us and stays in ones mind to let us perceive others and ideas. In layman's terms this
process is an ingrained perception.
Racism is in fact an ingrained perception placed in peoples minds. A prime example is
portrayed to us in Paul Haggis movie Crash. The viewer is presented with a scene in which a
higher class couple were finishing out a night on the town. On their way back to their car they
pass two colored men. One of the men was on a rant about racism against his type. He mentioned
something along the lines of people looking down on them due to the color of their skin. This
could be a false perception in the black mans mind, due to what he has experienced in his life,
giving him a specific evaluation on the subject. This false perception of the mans mind is due to
a form of frame of reference called habit of mind. Habit of mind are broad, abstract, orienting,
habitual ways of thinking, feeling, and acting influenced by assumptions that constitute a set of
codes An example of habit of mind is ethnocentrism, the predisposition to regard others
outside ones own group as inferior. A resulting point of view is the complex of feelings, beliefs,
judgments, and attitude we have regarding specific individuals or groups (for example,
homosexuals, welfare recipients, people of color, or women). (Mezirow 269). This explains
what is considered to be a habit of mind, and goes jointly with the scene in the movie Crash.
The man had a specific frame of reference, habit of mind creating a judgment on others because
he created the assumption that others had a habit of mind against him due to the color of his skin.
Continued in the movie scene Crash, when the white couple walked passed, the woman
refused to acknowledge the black man's presence and looked down as they crossed paths. This
action triggered the black man to point the situation out and make it more public. The black men,
equipped with guns eventually robbed them by stealing their money and car. In this situation a

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different frame of reference occurred called point of view. Points of view are subjects to
continuing change as we reflect on ether the content or process by which we solve problems and
identify the need to modify assumptions. (Mezirow 269). This explains that the white woman
more than likely had a negative point of view of the men, leading to her avoiding contact with
the men due to their appearance.
Similarly, Brent Staples depicts in his article Black Men and Public Spaces, a similar
situation. Staples, a black male, was walking down an alley, when a woman in the same alley
began acting nervous and paranoid. Soon the woman fled the scene. This shows that the woman
had a particular habit of mind and point of view toward men in this ilk situation. Staples explains
I was surprised, embarrassed, and dismayed all at once. Her flight made me feel like an
accomplice in tyranny. It also made it clear that I was indistinguishable from the muggers who
occasionally seeped into the area from the surrounding ghetto. (Staples 15), this is a prime
example of how society may use frames of reference in a negative way leading to harsh
judgement. This type of harsh judgment from the woman led Staples to feel as if he were no
better than the muggers that came from the surrounding ghettos. Mezirow explains that, we rely
on a tentative best judgment among those whom we believe to be informed, rational, and
objective our only other recourse is to turn to an authority or tradition to make a judgment for
us. (269). It is explained by Mezirow that the woman was using her best judgment to protect
herself because of her own frame of reference, leading her to perceive Staples to be a bad person.
In the article Officials question study of city's young black men written by James Bock,
Bock goes to explain that, Despite a report showing that 56 percent of young black men in
Baltimore were in trouble with the law, the city's top law enforcement official said yesterday that
there are more good ones than bad ones. Sympathizing with Staples encounter with the woman,

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Bock explains that not all black men are bad. Bock also goes to explain State's Attorney Stuart
O. Simms said the report by the National Center on Institutions and Alternatives (NCIA)
included so many minor offenses and charges that it unintentionally supported the bad stereotype
of African-American males ages 18 to 35 today. (Bock 1). This proves that not all black men are
what they are perceived to be. Frames of reference can be distorted by what we may hear or see
from others. As mentioned previously the woman feared Staples and fled because she feared
what he might do to her due to his race and or color. This leads to another form of judgment
targeting women.
In the movie Crash, the white woman may have been targeted because she appeared as
a wealthy white female. A specific frame of reference on why females may be tempting targets,
is because most times more than often they are perceived to be smaller and weaker targets. The
fact that her husband was present is irrelevant to the situation because they were outnumbered
and overpowered by weapons. Likewise in Staples article the woman felt venerable. She was
depicted as a well-dressed female in her 20s. Aware that Staples was capable of overpowering
her, she went with her first point of view and chose to run, wrongly accusing Staples of being a
bad man. Staples explains in his article I understand, of course, that the danger they perceive is
not a hallucination. Women are particularly vulnerable to street violence, and young black males
are drastically overrepresented among the perpetrators of violence. (Staples 16). Staples
communicates that he is understanding of the young womans point of view as well as her
actions. Staple also explains that he does not blame the young woman for falsely accusing him,
because of the fact that over all, black men are the ones most known for being criminals in these
types of conditions. This goes back to the previous statements made by Bock, explaining that not

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all black men are what they are perceived to be. Frames of reference can be distorted by what we
may hear or see from others.
Frames of reference can have either positive, or negative aspects affecting the way the
21st century has been thought. Society overtime has been thought to be a very judgmental group
of people. The movie as well as the articles gave many effective examples. Examples from both
include racism, harsh judgement, and discrimination on gender. Judgement happens every day in
reality, outside of these works of literature. Judgments may likely come from ingrained
perceptions that we as people are raised with.

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Works Cited
Bock, James. "Officials Question Study of City's Young Black Men." Tribune Digital-Baltimore
Sun. The Baltimore Sun, 03 September. 1992. Web. 09 May 2015.
Crash. Dir. Paul Haggis. Perf. Don Cheadle and Sandra Bullock. 2004. DVD
Mezirow, Jack. Transformative Learning: Theory to Practice Exploring Relationships:
Globalization and Learning in the 21 Century. Ed. Mid Michigan Community College Boston:
st

Pearson Learning Solutions, 2013. Pg 268 pg 273. Print.

Staples, Brent. Black Men and Public Spaces Exploring Relationships: Globalization and
Learning in the 21 Century. Ed. Mid Michigan Community College Boston: Pearson Learning
st

Solutions, 2013. Pg 15 pg 17. Print.