Discrimination against dark-skinned people occurs when there is contact both within and between countries. Explanations in terms of inherent inferiority are scientifically and historically unsound. Psychological factors relating to early experience with Bareness as a fear-arousing stimulus may be the basis for the generalization to symbolic representations of black and white and to skin color. Evidence shows aversion to dark skin and to the color black in the West. Studies in Japan also show an. aversion to dark-skinned groups and a similar, though less intense, reaction to the colors black and white. Religious and linguistic symbols stress the balance rather than the polarity although the universal positive and negative associations to the colors are present. Darkness may be less of a fear-arousing stimulus in Japan while the economic identification of Japan with the West may be important in the rejection of dark-skinned groups.