Stereotyping in psychology refers to a cognitive process of creating mental shortcuts about entire groups of people. It is a topic in social psychology because it explains how individuals simplify the complex social world, which can lead to significant social consequences. This article will define stereotyping, examine the cognitive functions it serves, discuss the negative impacts it has on those who are targeted, and explore strategies for reducing this type of thinking.
What Stereotyping Is and Is Not
A stereotype is a generalized belief about the characteristics shared by members of a particular social group, applied to most or all individuals within that group. These generalizations can be positive or negative, but they always oversimplify the true diversity present in any population. Psychologically, a stereotype is a cognitive component—a thought or a belief—that allows the brain to process information about others quickly.
It is important to distinguish stereotyping from two related concepts: prejudice and discrimination. Prejudice is an affective, or emotional, attitude toward a group of people, typically negative, that is formed before evaluating individual evidence. It involves an internal judgment and emotional response toward a group.
Discrimination, in contrast, is the behavioral component; it is the negative action or unjust treatment directed at an individual solely because of their membership in a specific group. While stereotypes can lead to prejudice, and both can ultimately result in discrimination, these three aspects of bias can occur independently. For instance, a person could hold a stereotype without acting discriminatorily, or they could discriminate without having an intense emotional prejudice.
The Cognitive Function of Stereotypes
The brain’s reliance on stereotypes is explained by the idea that humans are “cognitive misers” who seek to conserve mental energy. Stereotypes function as cognitive schemas or heuristics, which are mental frameworks that organize and interpret social information efficiently. When encountering a new person, the brain automatically sorts them into a pre-existing social category, activating the associated stereotype schema to simplify judgment.
This process is heavily influenced by how people categorize others, creating distinctions between the “in-group” (groups one belongs to) and the “out-group.” A common result of this categorization is the out-group homogeneity effect, which is the tendency to view all members of an out-group as being highly similar. This effect minimizes individual differences within the out-group, making the generalized stereotype appear more accurate.
Stereotypes are maintained and strengthened through confirmation bias, a psychological tendency to seek out or remember information that supports an existing belief while ignoring contradictory evidence. If a person expects a group member to behave a certain way, they are more likely to notice and recall instances that align with that expectation. This selective attention ensures that the initial generalized belief remains resistant to change, reinforcing the stereotype’s presence.
Psychological Consequences for Targets
Stereotypes extend beyond mere thoughts and can significantly impact the emotional and behavioral reality of the people they target. One negative consequence is Stereotype Threat, a phenomenon identified by social psychologist Claude Steele. Stereotype threat occurs when individuals from a negatively stereotyped group become aware that their performance could confirm the negative stereotype about their group.
This awareness creates a psychological burden, causing anxiety and self-doubt that can interfere with cognitive function and performance, particularly in high-stakes situations. For example, a student who is a member of a group stereotyped as having less intellectual ability may experience this threat. The resulting anxiety can cause them to underperform, ironically fulfilling the negative expectation.
A related consequence is the Self-Fulfilling Prophecy, a social phenomenon where an expectation about a person or group ultimately causes that expectation to come true. When an observer holds a stereotype, their behavior toward the target can subtly change, influencing the target to act consistently with the original stereotype. For example, a teacher who expects less from certain students might provide less challenging material, causing those students to underperform and making the initial expectation appear accurate.
Reducing Stereotypical Thinking
Psychological research suggests that interrupting the automatic nature of stereotyping requires conscious effort and specific strategies. One established method is the Contact Hypothesis, which posits that interaction between members of different social groups can reduce prejudice and stereotyping. For this to be effective, the contact must occur under specific conditions:
- Having equal status
- Working toward a common goal
- Being supported by authorities
- Being supported by social norms
Another set of strategies involves increasing cognitive effort to overcome the brain’s reliance on shortcuts. This includes promoting “individuating information,” which means actively focusing on the unique traits and experiences of an individual rather than relying on group generalizations. When a person takes the time to process a target as a complex individual, the automatic stereotype activation is less likely to influence judgment.
A third effective technique is perspective-taking, which involves deliberately imagining the world from the viewpoint of a member of the stereotyped group. This mental exercise increases empathy and makes it more difficult to maintain simplistic, generalized views. By employing conscious strategies, individuals can override the automatic cognitive processes that perpetuate stereotypical thinking.