Formation of stereotypes Flashcards
For SAQ
What are stereotypes?
Oversimplified ideas about groups of people, often acquired indirectly from social norms.
How can stereotypes be characterized?
They can be positive or negative but are generally broad and do not apply to every individual in the group.
What role do stereotypes play in perception?
They act as mental shortcuts, assuming a person fits the stereotype until proven otherwise.
What is confirmation bias in the context of stereotypes?
The tendency to notice and remember instances that confirm our stereotypes while ignoring contradictory evidence.
What does schema theory explain?
The formation of stereotypes by organizing information into categories, or schemas.
What is the purpose of categorizing information into schemas?
To manage the vast amount of information encountered daily and to make generalizations easier.
How do stereotypes influence our interactions?
They influence how we perceive and interact with others by shaping our expectations.
What societal teachings contribute to stereotypes about poor people?
Attributing their situation to personal failings rather than unequal access to educational services and opportunities.
What was the aim of the study conducted by Darley and Gross (1983)?
To examine how stereotypes influence people’s expectations and perceptions based on social labels.
Who were the participants in the Darley and Gross study?
Sixty-seven college undergraduates separated into two groups.
What were the two environments shown in the videos during the study?
A ‘rich’ environment and a ‘poor’ environment.
What was the performance of the girl in the test described in the study?
Her performance was ambiguous; she got some easy questions right and missed some hard questions as well.
How did participants’ perceptions differ based on socioeconomic background?
Participants believed from a higher socioeconomic background rated the child’s abilities higher and vice versa.
What did participants use to interpret the ambiguous information from the video?
Pre-stored schemas about socioeconomic backgrounds.
What do stereotypes create according to the study findings?
Not certainties but hypotheses about the stereotyped individual.
How did participants justify their ratings of the child’s performance?
By providing evidence from the test that supported their conclusions, illustrating confirmation bias.
What is a key conclusion from the study by Darley and Gross?
Stereotypes can shape perceptions, leading to biased evaluations based on socioeconomic schemas.
Fill in the blank: Schema theory provides an understanding of how _______ are formed and maintained.
[stereotypes]
True or False: Stereotypes lead to objective evaluations of new information.
False
What is the impact of schemas on our interpretation of new information?
They can lead to biased perceptions and interactions.
