9.1 Formation and Maintenance of Stereotypes

Stereotypes are generalized beliefs about groups that shape our social perceptions. They form through cognitive biases, social categorization, and information processing shortcuts. These mental shortcuts can lead to oversimplification and reinforcement of existing beliefs about different groups.

Stereotypes have far-reaching consequences on intergroup dynamics and individual experiences. They can create barriers to understanding, fuel implicit biases, and even impact performance through stereotype threat. Understanding how stereotypes form and persist is crucial for addressing their negative effects.

Cognitive Processes in Stereotyping

Foundations of Stereotyping

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• Stereotype represents a generalized belief about characteristics of a particular group
• Cognitive bias influences information processing and decision-making, leading to systematic deviations from rational judgment
• Social categorization involves organizing individuals into groups based on shared characteristics (gender, race, age)
• Categorization simplifies complex social environments and helps individuals navigate social interactions
• Categorization can lead to oversimplification and reinforcement of existing stereotypes

Biases in Information Processing

• Illusory correlation occurs when people perceive a relationship between two variables that does not actually exist or is weaker than believed
• Illusory correlation contributes to stereotype formation by associating minority groups with rare, distinctive behaviors
• Confirmation bias involves seeking out information that confirms pre-existing beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence
• Confirmation bias strengthens stereotypes by selectively attending to stereotype-consistent information
• People tend to remember stereotype-consistent information more easily, further reinforcing existing beliefs

Impact on Social Perception

• Stereotypes serve as mental shortcuts, allowing quick judgments about individuals based on group membership
• Stereotypes can lead to overgeneralization and neglect of individual differences within groups
• Activation of stereotypes can occur automatically, influencing perceptions and behaviors without conscious awareness
• Stereotypes may persist even in the face of contradictory evidence due to cognitive biases and motivated reasoning
• Cultural transmission of stereotypes occurs through various channels (media, family, peers) reinforcing societal beliefs

Consequences of Stereotyping

Effects on Intergroup Perceptions

• Outgroup homogeneity effect leads people to perceive members of other groups as more similar to each other than members of their own group
• This effect results in oversimplification of outgroup characteristics and reinforcement of stereotypes
• Outgroup homogeneity contributes to the perception of outgroup members as interchangeable or lacking individuality
• Ingroup members tend to recognize more variability and complexity within their own group
• This bias can hinder intergroup understanding and promote stereotypical thinking

Impact on Stereotyped Individuals

• Stereotype threat occurs when individuals fear confirming negative stereotypes about their group
• This fear can lead to decreased performance in stereotype-relevant domains (math performance for women)
• Stereotype threat can result in increased anxiety, reduced working memory capacity, and altered problem-solving strategies
• Long-term exposure to stereotype threat may lead to disidentification with stereotype-relevant domains
• Interventions to reduce stereotype threat include emphasizing growth mindset and promoting diverse role models

Unconscious Influences on Behavior

• Implicit bias refers to unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that affect behavior, decisions, and judgments
• Implicit biases can exist even when individuals explicitly reject stereotypes or prejudiced beliefs
• These biases can influence various domains (hiring decisions, healthcare, education)
• Implicit Association Test (IAT) measures the strength of associations between concepts and evaluations or stereotypes
• Reducing implicit bias requires conscious effort, exposure to counter-stereotypical examples, and increased intergroup contact

Theoretical Perspectives on Stereotypes

Stereotype Content Model

• Stereotype Content Model proposes that stereotypes can be understood along two primary dimensions: warmth and competence
• Warmth dimension relates to perceived intent (friendly vs. hostile)
• Competence dimension relates to perceived ability to act on those intents
• Four main clusters emerge from combinations of high and low warmth and competence
• High warmth, high competence: admired groups (ingroup, close allies)
• High warmth, low competence: pitied groups (elderly, disabled)
• Low warmth, high competence: envied groups (Asians, Jews, rich people)
• Low warmth, low competence: despised groups (welfare recipients, homeless)
• Model explains emotional reactions and behaviors toward different groups based on their perceived warmth and competence
• Ambivalent stereotypes occur when groups are high on one dimension but low on the other
• Model helps explain why some stereotypes persist and how they influence intergroup relations