16 Nov When our behavior toward another person is based on that person’s membership in a category defined by race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, religion, age, or some other identifying feature, we are implicitly making a generalization on the basis of a stereotype

Chapter 6 discusses generalization, discrimination learning and concept formation.  Several pages focus on stereotypes.

“When our behavior toward another person is based on that person’s membership in a category defined by race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, religion, age, or some other identifying feature, we are implicitly making a generalization on the basis of a stereotype, a set of beliefs about the attributes of the members of a group.” (page 252)

“Although some of our stereotypes are based on personal encounters with members of another group, many stereotypes are socially communicated through our parents, friends and secondhand reports in books, movies, TV, and the Internet, all of which vary greatly in their accuracy.” (page 252)

The directions for this Discussion are the same as for previous Discussions.

(1) Can you identify stereotypes that you have learned through your parents or friends?  Please describe the stereotypes and how you learned them.

(2) Can you identify stereotypes that you have learned through books, movies, TV, social media or the Internet?  Please describe the stereotypes and how you learned them.

(3) Have you felt that you have been stereotyped on a basis other than race? Please describe the stereotype and how it affects you.