Stereotyping Flashcards
Stereotype
A social perception of an individual in terms of group membership or physical attributes (generalisations that are made about a group and then attributed to members of that group)
Out-group homogeneity
When we see out-groups as all having similar traits
Two key sources of stereotype
- Personal experience with individuals and groups
- Gatekeepers: media, parents, and other members of our culture
Illusory correlation
People see a relationship between two variables even when there is none (cognitive bias – errors in judgement based on cognitive factors)
Confirmation bias
The tendency to search for, interpret, favour and recall information in a way that confirms or supports one’s prior beliefs or values. (People tend to overlook information that contradicts what they already believe + makes stereotypical things resistant to change)
Cross-sectional
Observational studies that analyse data from a population at a single point in time.
Stereotype threat
When one is in a situation where there is a threat of being judged or treated stereotypically or a fear of doing something that would inadvertently confirm that stereotype.
Spotlight anxiety
The tendency to overestimate how much others notice and focus on our actions and appearance, leading to heightened self-consciousness and anxiety, especially in social situations
Memory distortion
When our brain creates false memories or changes the memories, we already have
Serial reproduction
Where participants read a story and then recount it from memory, with each subsequent participant retelling the story based on the previous participant’s version, simulating the transmission of information
