(d) Discrimination: unfavorable treatment of a person based on that person's membership or perceived membership in a protected class. "Validation of the Detroit area study discrimination scale in a community sample of older African American adults: the Pittsburgh healthy heart project.Infant Behavior and Development ; Publication Date. European Review of Social Psychology. Discrimination is the unfair or prejudicial treatment of people and groups based on characteristics such as race, gender, age, or sexual orientation. Disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. The subjective meaning and consequences of perceived discrimination depend on the position of one's group in the social structure. Disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Living in a residence halls at Clark Atlanta University means one is living in a community of students. The Clarks concluded that segregation, prejudice, and discrimination caused Black children to develop a sense of inferiority and self-hatred.