Question

What is stereotype?

Hint:

Remember the distinction: A {stereotype} is a belief (cognitive), {prejudice} is a feeling (affective), and {discrimination} is an action (behavioral).

Answer 1

A stereotype is a fixed, over-generalized belief or cognitive schema about a particular group or class of people. It is a mental shortcut that allows for quick social categorization. Key aspects of stereotypes are:

Oversimplification: They attribute a set of characteristics to all members of a group, ignoring individual differences.

Learned: Stereotypes are learned from one's culture, family, peers, and the media, not based on direct experience with all members of a group.

Can be Positive, Negative, or Neutral: While often negative (e.g., "All teenagers are rebellious"), stereotypes can also be seemingly positive (e.g., "All Asians are good at math") or neutral. However, even positive stereotypes can be harmful as they create unrealistic expectations.

Resistant to Change: Stereotypes are often resistant to new information that contradicts them.

Stereotypes are the cognitive component that can lead to prejudice (the affective/emotional component) and discrimination (the behavioral component).