Stereotyping



Stereotyping

Introduction

Definition: A stereotype is “...a fixed, over generalized belief about a particular group or class of people.” (Cardwell, 1996).

For example, All Asians are excellent at math.

One of the advantages of stereotyping is that it allows us to respond quickly to those situations which we have encountered in the past.

One of the disadvantages is that it makes us to overlook the differences between different individuals; this is the reason why we try to generalize things about them.

Stereotype can be used majorly to simplify our social world, because it reduces the volume of processing, which is needed to be done when we meet a new person.

Almost every race or culture has some sort of stereotype, including Muslim people, Black Americans, Irish people, among others.

By stereotyping we conclude that the whole range of characteristics and skills are available in a person that we presuppose all members of the same group must be having. It leads to social classification, which is a reason for prejudice attitudes (i.e. “us” and “them” thinking).

Probably most of the stereotypes tend to communicate a negative footprint on our minds. Positive examples can include doctors (the phrase “decent as a doctor” it represents characteristics of respect), people who are overweight are considered to be humorous. However negative stereotypes can be commonly found.

Discussion

Three Stereotypes Encountered

There was a friend of mine, his name was Andrew, who was pretty a close friend but we had a fight about some issue. That was pretty annoying and we then ended our relationship. The type of physic that he had, he was a tall and thin guy and after that experience I developed a stereotype about thin and tall people that they are not good and loyal friends. And after that I met another guy who had similar type of physic, but I had ...