PSYC12H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Walter Lippmann, Mate Value, Social Cognition
Document Summary
Chapter one: introduction to the study of stereotyping and prejudice: groups are not unique to humans. Some researchers theorize that the tendency to form groups is such a basic part of the nature of animals, including humans, and has conveyed survival benefits so successfully that it had withstood time and evolution. In other words, stereotypes tell us what social information is important to perceive and to disregard in our environment. Cultural and individual stereotypes: a useful but infrequently used distinction must be made when discussing the definition of stereotype. Specifically, it is important to differentiate between cultural and individual stereotypes. A (cid:272)ultural stereot(cid:455)pe des(cid:272)ri(cid:271)es (cid:862)shared or (cid:272)o(cid:373)(cid:373)u(cid:374)it(cid:455)-wide patter(cid:374)s of (cid:271)eliefs(cid:863), (cid:449)hereas a(cid:374) i(cid:374)di(cid:448)idual stereot(cid:455)pe des(cid:272)ri(cid:271)es the (cid:271)eliefs held (cid:271)(cid:455) a(cid:374) individual about the characteristics of a group. Is a stereotype an attitude: some researchers believe that a stereotype is similar to an attitude.
