Stereotype

For the term used in computing, see stereotype (computing).

For the term used in its original printing sense, see [[:etymology below]].

For the 1996 Blur single, see Stereotypes (song).

Stereotypes are ideas held about members of particular groups, based solely on membership in that group. They are often considered to be negative or prejudicial and may be used to justify certain discriminatory behaviors. More benignly, they may express sometimes-accurate folk wisdom about social reality.

Description

Assumed characteristics on a large group of individuals whose beliefs, habits, and realities often disagree with the imposed image.

Stereotype production is based on:

• Simplification
• Exaggeration
• Generalization
• Presentation of cultural attributes as being 'natural'
• Unshakable belief in stability of stereotype
• Racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination
• Historical factors
• Guilt by association
• can be negative or positive
• can be beneficial or harmful (a harmful stereotype can still be positive about a group)

Harmful Stereotypes

Stereotypes are seen by many as undesirable beliefs imposed to justify the acts of discrimination and oppression. It is thought that education and/or familiarization can change these misbeliefs. Other negative effects are:

• justification of ill-founded prejudices or ignorance
• unwillingness to rethink one's attitudes and behavior towards stereotyped group
• self-fulfilling prophecy for both stereotyping and stereotyped group (White people treat black people in a more hostile way due to being afraid of them. Black people accordingly react more aggressively, thus confirming the stereotype...)

Unhealthy stereotypes can be negative or positive, even for the same group: Black men are generally supposed to be good musicians and basketball-players, but at the same time seen as aggressive and likely to take and sell drugs. The effects, of stereotypes, too, can have positive and negative effects: Students who were implicitly made aware of their gender behaved as the stereotype suggested:

Asian-American women performed better in math-tests when being aware of being Asian, and did worse when being reminded of being women.[1]

Stereotyping can also be created by the media showing an incorrect judgment of a culture or place, making people into stereotypes.

Often the terms stereotype and prejudice are confused:

• Stereotypes are a generalization of characteristics; they reduce complexity, provide stability and also can offer opportunities to identify oneself with others.
• Prejudices are either an abstract-general preconception or an attitude towards individuals.

Beneficial Stereotypes

Stereotyping, while seen by many as negative and harmful, has a number of beneficial uses for societies. One of these is in the purpose of uniforms which encourage a healthy stereotype to facilitate public service (such as a fireman or police officer) or a business. In many cases, it is not practical to know an individual in order to quickly make an important assessment, hence the need for people to make judgments about an individual based solely upon membership in a group (definition of stereotype) becomes important. For example: a person who is fleeing a fire and sees someone wearing the uniform of a firefighter will immediately make special judgments about that individual such as strength, knowledge of the situation, willingness to help, etc. These judgments were not made due to any individual knowledge about the person, but were made solely upon identification of group membership. That the fleeing individual was able to recognize the firefighter means the healthy stereotype was successfully learned. What if the fleeing individual had never learned of the firefighter stereotype?

Another example is to consider being lost in a large store, uncertain of where to find a particular item. Upon seeing someone wearing a store uniform, a judgment is immediately made about the individual that he or she is willing to help us find the item, in addition to upholding the principles and values of the business. In this case, to see someone wearing a store uniform and make judgments about that person regarding the business is highly useful, not just for the customer, but also for the business (facilitating customer service).

In regards to education, many consider it important to teach children to stereotype certain people such as police officers or school teachers. One critical stereotype that many encourage parents to teach children is of that of the sexual predator. For example, to run from, and report a man who offers something such as candy in exchange to step inside his car is an important stereotype taught to children. In these examples, and in numerous others, stereotyping is an essential and healthy way in which people, business, and societies function. The question of whether or not a stereotype is healthy or unhealthy is determined by how it is used. Stereotypes in and of themselves should not be considered universally harmful.

As a Cognitive Tool

In contrast to much thinking, which has roots in Renaissance ideology and liberal humanism (Pinker, 2002), some stereotypes are not the product of society rather they are one more tool the mind uses to navigate its complex environment (Lee et al. 1995). Indeed, arguably the most intricate and important ability the mind needs is to be able to perceive others. How is this achieved? Theorists have argued that rather than perceiving people according to their idiosyncratic characteristics they might do so according to their social category (e.g. German, grandma) and in so doing reap the information about that group (e.g. efficient, slow) from memory without having to perceive it (see Macrae and Bodenhausen, 2000), which may be altogether less of an effort (Britton and Tesser, 1982). Such structures also sensitize perceivers to invariant features (e.g. the messy German, the punk grandma) affording the perceiver flexibility as well as predictability (Johnston and Hawley, 1994). As Gilbert and Hixon (1991) have commented, the ability to use the past as a guide to the present is a very handy tool.

In other words, stereotypes are a result of our need to selectively perceive our environment. We notice, remember and store the information that is most noticeable (e.g. most strange, different, pleasing or detestable about someone) and that which confirms what we already seem to know. Thus stereotypes help us to 'understand' and structure the complex world around us, because they are 'useful' simplifications. They provide stock-information about what to expect and how to act concerning certain groups of people. However, direct contact with members of this group may modify the stereotype by adding more and more details, until finally it has to be given up, because the necessary oversimplification and generalization are no longer appropriate. [2]

Stereotype inevitability

The conditions under which stereotypes become activated is currently under scientific investigation. However, from a few decades of research (e.g Macrae and Bodenhausen, 2000) it appears that stereotypes are activated automatically and inevitably in the majority of situations. See stereotype inevitability for a more detailed article on this issue.

Stereotypes of groups

Common stereotypes include a variety of allegations about groups based on age, ethnicity, gender, nationality, profession, sexual orientation, race, religious belief, size, physical appearance, social class (see social stereotype). Stereotypes can also be based on individual handicaps.

Stereotypes within groups

A variety of stereotypes usually exist within major social groups, and relate to the variety of identified that exist within their own group.

From a teenage view, stereotypes are used to abuse other groups that are not ideally like themselves.

Stereotypes in culture

Stereotypes are common in the world of drama, where the term is often used as a form of dramatic shorthand for "stock character". In literature and art, stereotypes are clichéd or predictable characters or situations. For example, the stereotypical devil is a red, impish character with horns, bifurcated tail, and a trident, whilst the stereotypical salesman is a slickly-dressed, fast-talking individual who cannot usually be trusted. The Italian Commedia Dell'arte was known for its stock characters and stock situations, which could be considered drama stereotypes. Throughout history, storytellers have drawn from stereotypical characters and situations, in order to quickly connect the audience with new tales. Sometimes such stereotypes can be very complex and sophisticated, such as Shakespeare's Shylock in The Merchant of Venice.

The instantly recognisable nature of stereotypes mean that they are very useful in producing effective advertising and situation comedy. Media stereotypes change and evolve over time - for instance, we now instantly recognize only a few of the stereotyped characters shown to us in John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress. The teen sitcom, Saved By The Bell features a typical group of high school stereotypes such as a "class clown" (Zack Morris), a "jock" (A.C. Slater), a "nerd" (Samuel "Screech" Powers), a cheerleader (Kelly Kapowski)(a feminist (Jessie Spano) and a superficial fashion plate (Lisa Turtle).

Etymology

The word stereotype was invented by Firmin Didot in the world of printing; it was originally a duplicate impression of an original typographical element, used for printing instead of the original. American journalist Walter Lippmann coined the metaphor, calling a stereotype a "picture in our heads" saying "Whether right or wrong, ...imagination is shaped by the pictures seen... Consequently, they lead to stereotypes that are hard to shake." (Public Opinion, 1922, 95-156). To note, cliché and stereotype were both originally printers' words, and in their literal printers' meanings were synonymous. Specifically, cliché was a French word for the printing surface for a stereotype.[3]

Ethology

In ethology, stereotyped behaviour or fixed action pattern is an innate, pre-programed response that is repeated when an animal is exposed to an environmental innate releasing mechanism.

See also

• Animal stereotypes
• Sexual stereotyping
• Counterstereotype (antonym)
• Ethnic stereotype
• Intercultural competence
• Prejudices
• Racial profiling
• Stock character
• Ethnic stereotypes in American media
• Stigmatization
• Psychology:
  • Negativity effect
  • Outgroup homogeneity bias
  • Physical attractiveness stereotype
  • Trait ascription bias

Lists

• List of stereotypical characters in the world of drama

External links

• A dedicated site for discussion on stereotypes [4]
• Social Psychology Network Stereotyping
• Understanding Stereotypes - Educational information about stereotypes.
• Short movie: Stereotypes in conflict - Reaction from people in shopping center on business men, weird & slutty types and goths.
• Stereotypes: Risk or Opportunity? - Thoughts on stereotypes and how stereotyping influences our preferences.
• SEPARATING the GOLD from the DROSS: a guide to multicultural literature
• On Stereotypes and Cultural Differences
• Dr. Sam Vaknin. The Merits of Stereotypes
• Media Awareness Network. What is a stereotype? Definition, role of stereotyping in the media, more links
• A Galleryblog on stereotypes A blog dedicated to the study of stereotypes in American mass culture; in particular, stereotypes of Latinas/os, Mexicans, and other Hispanic "types." The blog is a continuation of a discussion in Tex(t)-Mex --a University of Texas Press book (2007).
• Stereotypes Are A Real Time-Saver (Parody)

References

• Social Psychology Network Stereotyping
• Dr. Sam Vaknin. The Merits of Stereotypes
• Media Awareness Network. What is a stereotype? Definition, role of stereotyping in the media, more links