Abstract
The article offers a certain selection of relevant psychological views upon minorities. It attempts to bring in interesting and widely applicable theoretical conceptions - Hofstede's theory of national cultures, the aspects of intercultural communication which, from the perspective of psychology, may be significant in the interaction between the majority society and minorities.
The context of such communication may give rise to so-called ethnophaulisms as expressions incorporating ridiculing designation of a particular minority, based usually on certain stereotypes regarding this minority. Psychology deals with conditions under which stereotypes and ethnophaulisms arise; it attempts to find ways of treating and mitigating them.
The article also focuses on other communication characteristics which may vary among various cultures; for example, it may include control over non-verbal expression, various types of greeting, addressing people within the given culture, etc. The article briefly deals with adaptation of migrants to the conditions of the majority culture.
In conclusion, specific issues arise in the area of the application of psychology in practice (such as forensic psychology). The psychological view on the issues of minorities appears to be relevant (a) due to newly emerging minorities resulting from migration, and (b) within the context of improving relations with some minorities which have been a traditional part of our society.