Transcript Explain the formation of stereotypes and their effect on

Explain the Formation of
Stereotypes and Their Effect on
Behaviour
By Mr Daniel Hansson
Questions for discussion
1. Take the implicit association test at
http://www.understandingprejudice.org/iat/
2. Which groups of people do you hold stereotypes of?
3. Select three or four groups of people about whom you
tend to hold stereotypes, and list the adjectives you might
use to describe these groups.
4. Where do you think your stereotypes come from?
5. Are stereotypes always harmful? Can they be useful?
6. Who is more likely to be stereotyped in a society?
7. Think of some instances when others have stereotyped
you. Why do you think this happened?
8. How did you feel when you thought you were being
stereotyped?
What is a stereotype?
 A schema or set of beliefs or expectations
about a person based on his group
membership.
Explanations of stereotyping
 Schematic processing
 Illusory correlation
 Social identity theory
Illusory correlation
 Illusory correlation: A behaviour is linked to a particular
group although it bears little or no relationship with that
particular group. E.g. women’s math ability
 When two rare events occur at the same time, they are
more likely to be perceived as related (e.g. 2012 and The
End of the World, Friday 13th and bad luck, Full moon and
insanity, minority groups and criminal behaviour)
 Once illusory correlations are made, people tend to
overlook information that contradicts what they already
believe and pay attention to behaviours that confirm what
they believe (confirmation bias)
Social identity theory
 We naturally categorize other people into in
groups and out groups
 It is an automatic, unconscious process
Effect on behaviour: Stereotype
threat
 Occurs when a person who is exposed to a
stereotype is negatively affected in her
performance
 Stereotype threats turns on spotlight
anxiety, which causes emotional distress
and pressure that may undermine
performance
Supporting research
 Stereotyping: Karlins (1969), Martin &
Halvarson
 Illusory correlation: Hamilton & Gifford
(1976)
 Social identity theory: Rogers & Frantz
(1962)
 Stereotype threat: Steele & Aronson (1995)