Stereotypes: what they are, types, examples, stereotyping in psychology, how to deal with stereotypes.

We have all encountered stereotypical thinking, and it is perhaps difficult to find a person who has not heard what a stereotype is. Many of us believe that we are not susceptible to this phenomenon and are free from it, but this is practically impossible. Template thinking can manifest itself in small things that are not noticeable at first glance. What are the stereotypes, and is it worth fighting them?

Stereotypes: what are they?

Translated from ancient Greek, the word stereotype is “volumetric imprint,” and this definition says a lot. This was once the name given to the printing cliché used in printing machines.

Currently stereotyped

They call a well-established idea of anything, a stereotyped perception of reality. Stereotypes are embedded deep in the subconscious, becoming automatic judgments leading to automatic actions.

The mentioned phenomenon begins to form in the individual’s childhood, being instilled by those around him - peers, educators, teachers, family, and so on.

By thinking in a certain way in a number of different situations and getting into them, a person does not waste extra energy on analysis. The reaction occurs instantly, without the need for regulation. If we talk about saving mental resources, then this is even convenient. Stereotypes make the world more consistent and predictable, and this reduces the level of innate anxiety. This is one of the rare positive aspects of the phenomenon.

Changes occur regularly in the world, and at times, habitual thinking puts us in awkward or ambiguous situations. Example: ancient people lived with the belief that a person with a different skin color was a stranger and a danger. A potential ill-wisher was dealt with in a barbaric manner or taken prisoner. Echoes of the stereotype exist today, leading to racism and other unpleasant phenomena.

Be charmed by the friendliness of potential employees to avoid conflicts within your team

Firstly, if a person smiles and jokes during an interview, where his task is to please you, this does not mean that he is the same every day. Secondly, you can quite successfully be both friendly and confrontational at the same time.

To understand how an employee will behave in a conflict situation, do not make assumptions, but use specific cases and projective questions. Additionally, you can ask a couple of questions to his former managers, if possible.

Conflict is not always bad. There is no business without disagreements, we all disagree with colleagues from time to time. In such situations, it is important to argue openly and honestly. If the whole team smiles and nods at each other in an attempt to avoid confrontation, this will only make the problem worse.

While a colleague may argue because he really cares what happens to the product, the company and its business results. So it is important that the applicant is not afraid of conflicts and is ready to calmly defend his position - or just as calmly accept defeat.

Types of stereotypes

Stereotypes are: negative, positive, neutral, overly simplified, approximate, overgeneralized, accurate. In psychology, these types are distinguished.

Ethnostereotypes

Stereotyped ideas about one’s own or other peoples. Most often they harm positive communication between peoples, leading to negative consequences. When prejudice becomes the norm, there is a basis for discrimination, extreme nationalism, terrorism, and racism. Any person has typical stereotypes about a resident of another state.

In the eyes of the majority:

typical Chinese
: short, talkative, rice-loving;
typical American
: self-confident, smiling, loves burgers;
typical Frenchman
: dude, loving romantic, gourmet;
typical Englishman
: prim, eats oatmeal for breakfast, reserved.

There are many such stereotypes. We laugh with jokes about the Armenian radio, Chukchi, crests, Muscovites. We joke about the slowness of Estonians, the greed of Jews. Jokes based on stereotypes may seem offensive to some, but they do not pose a serious threat. And yet, ethnic stereotypes are comparable to blinders that narrow our horizons and harm ourselves. They prevent you from appreciating the culture of another country, finding good foreign friends, and much more.

Gender

Established ideas about men or women. Such prejudices have been formed for centuries, taking their origins from male hunters and women who guarded the hearth. There were also ancient myths and ballads. In the modern world, gender roles have undergone a number of changes, but stereotypes are firmly rooted in the consciousness of the majority. The most common: “Men don’t cry”, “A woman’s place is in the kitchen” and so on. This is the mindset many of us have.

Individual

They concern an individual. This implies the opinion of an individual, which may to some extent coincide with social stereotypes or completely contradict them. They are formed at the individual and personal level. They are also called socio-psychological.

Social

Refers to a group of people. They help us formulate our understanding of the world. At the same time, we separate “our” group of people from others. This can both develop and depress. Simply put, a social stereotype is a stable and somewhat simplified image of a phenomenon, group of people, event, etc. Example: politicians lie constantly, Italians are passionate and emotional, redheads are obstinate.

Social stereotypes are rarely accurate - more often they are false and perform a reactionary function, distorting people's knowledge and causing discord in interpersonal relationships. At the same time, they play a big role in assessing the world.

List of used literature

Large encyclopedic dictionary. – M., 1998.
R. Cialdini. Psychology of influence. – Peter, 2006.
E. V. Grigorieva, O. V. Gluzdova, O. M. Isaeva. Social psychology - M. Higher School, 2007.
K. Hogan. Psychology of influence. Manipulation techniques in business and personal communication - Williams, 2007.
M. I. Enikeev. General and social psychology - M.: Infra-M, 2008.
M.B. Beckwith. Live Free! Break stereotypes without going beyond - EKSMO, 2009.
E. P. Ilyin. Psychology of communication and interpersonal relationships - Peter, 2009.

2 pages, 753 words

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Stereotyping in psychology

Stereotyping refers to classification, evaluation and perception, the basis for which is the common judgments of a social group. Such assessments are based on stable stereotypes and information about similar characteristics. Example: “All Spaniards are crazy about tango.” It is one of the main characteristics of interpersonal and intergroup perception, as well as a reflection of the affective and schematized coloration generally characteristic of this form of perception.

In psychology, this term refers to the process of attributing similar characteristics to members of a certain group, without sufficient understanding of the differences between them. Based on simple general psychological mechanisms, stereotyping has become a complex socio-psychological phenomenon responsible for many functions: justifying potential negative attitudes towards other groups, maintaining personal identification, and others.

Pros and cons of stereotypical thinking

People who are accustomed to thinking in stereotypes can live a full life, even receiving certain benefits from this feature. The main advantages of stereotypical thinking include :

quick decision making;
less mental fatigue when analyzing information;
joining a certain social group.

At the same time, the tendency to think in stereotypes imposes certain limitations. Its main disadvantages include :

wrong decisions and wrong actions;
excessive gullibility, inability to think critically;
inability to analyze and draw conclusions independently;
patterned thinking hinders development.

Stereotyped thinking has more disadvantages, so it is necessary to combat it by developing the ability to think critically and objectively analyze incoming information.

Examples of stereotypes

If you don't fully understand what stereotypes are, consider many examples:

Men are guided by logic, and women are guided by emotions.
A man is obliged to support his woman.
Blondes are stupid.
A woman can think about several topics at the same time, but a man cannot.
A woman expects love from a relationship, and a man expects sex.
All women dream of getting married.
All women dream of children.
Men are smarter than women.
Boys are not allowed to wear pink things.
It is not normal for a boy to show interest in dolls.
Homosexuals cannot raise a child with dignity.
All women manipulate men.
Women tend to be monogamous, while men tend to be polygamous.
It is shameful for a man to do household chores; this is a woman’s lot.
A woman is ashamed to support a family; this is a man’s lot.
A normal man cannot be shy.
Mothers should take care of babies.
Every Chinese can make a telephone.
Women who dress beautifully hope to “attract a male.”
All gypsies are swindlers.
Women themselves provoke rapists.
A woman should not argue with her husband.
The husband must make decisions, and the woman must carefully guide him.
Men should have higher salaries.
The man doesn't cry.
Old people are grumpy and annoying.
There are only drunks in Russia.
All men cheat.
All teenagers go through a “difficult age”.
Every housewife should be able to cook borscht.
Women have no place in serious positions.
Hindus love to sing and dance.
All lesbians are masculine.
Americans mostly eat fast food.
Women should strive to become good wives and mothers.
Beaten by your husband? The woman provoked.
Has your wife left? They don't leave good husbands.
All normal women love children.
Women who have not given birth to children regret in old age, they are all unhappy and no one needs them.
She gave birth - there will be someone to give a glass of water in old age.
All politicians are thieves.
It's always snowing in Siberia.
It is impossible to get rich honestly.
If you didn’t serve, you’re not a man.
A woman can be either smart or beautiful.
Women driving are dangerous to society.
It is natural for a woman to know how to cook.
The British cannot live a day without tea and oatmeal.
All Italians are loving.
All Asians are alike.
India is full of all kinds of infection and dirt.
It's always cold in Russia.
It is natural for a man to understand technology.
The wife takes her husband's surname, and not vice versa.
Women are prone to commercialism.

Look at the regalia, evaluate the positions

It often seems to an HR specialist that vertical experience is unconditional proof of high professionalism. When we look at work experience outlined on a resume, we run the risk of falling into the position trap.

For example, if the last job was as the head of a department, although in the previous company the applicant was an ordinary marketer, it seems to us that this is serious career growth. In fact, you also need to pay attention to the companies themselves. Perhaps he worked as a marketer in a giant corporation with a high rating, and he was hired as a director of a department in a small local company without serious plans.

By the way, another stereotype, the other extreme, is to equate the level of a candidate with the level of the company in which he worked. For example, a recruiter saw a couple of beautiful big company names in a resume and, even before the interview with the candidate, attributes a bunch of skills and credentials to him. Or, on the contrary, he sees unfamiliar company names, is not impressed by the resume and automatically puts the resume in the “reserve”. You should be interested in the person's specific tasks and results, and not just the titles on the resume.

Stereotypes that interfere with life, how to deal with them

In some cases, we can say that stereotypes help to live, but more often they interfere with a full life, limiting mental activity, not letting consciousness go beyond the confines of a stereotyped worldview. An example is the stereotype: “It’s good where we are not.” Guided by it, a person is convinced that it is impossible to exist comfortably in his habitat, which leaves an imprint on his condition. In his perception: all other countries are prospering, and the people living there are much happier.

Such ridiculous thoughts can quickly drive you into depression. Guided by a stereotype, a person does not make attempts to find happiness and harmony, being convinced that this will not bear fruit. And yet you cannot blindly follow template phrases you accidentally hear. The aforementioned stereotype about the ghostly wonderful life “Where We Are Not” makes one think that someone has to make a minimum of effort to live a quality life. A feeling of envy, irritation, and dissatisfaction with one’s “failed” life arises.

The main method of combating stereotypes: doubt them, analyze them. Do not blindly believe stereotyped judgments, question them, check the data, and form your own opinion. Gradually, you will discard established stereotypes and carry out a kind of prevention of the emergence of new prejudices.

Think about what stereotypes you use regularly. Look among them for those that have no real evidence to support them. Example: “All blondes are stupid.” Once you start studying the information, you will see that among women with blond hair there are many doctors of science, talented doctors, honorary teachers and many other personalities who are in no way characterized by the definition of “stupid”.

Look for a refutation of other statements that have no basis. An example of a stereotype: “What is the price, so is the product.” You might be surprised, but you can find a lot of high-quality and stylish things at low prices. At the same time, expensive purchases can disappoint after the first purchase, raising suspicions that they are defective or counterfeit.

A person can be guided for a long period by an absurd stereotype that darkens his life and not even notice it. Think about whether there are such people in your perception? If you can’t lose faith in them, try meditation. It will teach you to think separately from society, your immediate environment, and draw your own conclusions. Try to study known stereotypes and form your own opinion about them.

Think about the actions you perform automatically. Take some time to analyze them. Try to pay attention to your actions and analyze which of them are dictated by stereotypes. Learn not to depend on public opinion and develop your own ideas.

Delete resumes with “torn experience”

Sometimes recruiters get annoyed when they see “ragged” experience in a candidate’s resume - with several changes in professions. HR mentally crosses such an applicant off the list, because “everything is somehow unclear, now he is this, then he is that.”

Meanwhile, the best employees are T-shape specialists. This term means that a person has deep knowledge and good practical skills in the field of his main profession, and in addition, he is “up-to-date” in related fields of activity.

There is nothing strange in the fact that a person has several talents and several interests, each of which he developed at one time. Look for hidden meaning and find out how the applicant's experience can benefit the company. Ask your potential designer why he or she put on his resume that he worked as a marketer and a truck driver. You might hear an interesting story.