Racism is discrimination and prejudice against people based on their race or ethnicity. It is the process by which systems and policies, actions and attitudes create inequitable opportunities and outcomes for people based on race. Racism can be present in social actions, practices, or political systems that support the expression of prejudice or aversion in discriminatory practices. Racism generally includes negative emotional reactions to members of the group, acceptance of negative stereotypes, and racial discrimination against individuals; in some cases, it leads to violence. The term "racist" may be an adjective or a noun, the latter describing a person who holds racist beliefs. Racism rests on two basic assumptions: that a correlation exists between physical characteristics and behavioral and intellectual qualities, and that these correlations are immutable. It is important to note that racism is different from racial prejudice, hatred, or discrimination. Racism involves one group having the power to carry out systematic discrimination through the institutional policies and practices of society and by shaping the cultural beliefs and values that support those racist policies and practices.