Social Categorisation, Stereotypes and
Prejudice Pt1
Categorisation
• Category = collections of instances that have a family resemblance organised around a
prototype
• Prototypes (theory) = cognitive representation of typical defining features of a category
o Standards against which family resemblance is assessed & category
membership decided
• Categories not rigid, but fuzzy
o More or less typical of the category
o Depending on the prototype
o Categorisation of less typical members more difficult
Why do we categorise?
• Save cognitive energy
o Saves time & cognitive processing
o Simplify how individuals think about world
• Clarifies and refines perception of the world
o Once category is activated – tend to see members as processing all traits of
the stereotype
o Reducing uncertainty, predict social world
• Maintain a positive self-esteem
o Motivational function for social identity & self-concept
Stereotypes: Illusory Correlation
• Negative stereotypes may occur when people inaccurately pair minority groups with
negative events/behaviours because they are both extinct:
o Hamilton and Sherman (1996)
▪ Asked White American participants to estimate the arrest rate
of various types of American.
▪ African Americans were estimated to have a higher arrest rate
than they did
Effects of stereotyping
• Behavioural assimilation
o Stereotypes don’t just influence our perceptions of others; they can
influence our own behaviour
• Stereotype threat
o The threat of negative evaluations can actually lead to poor performance,
e.g. sinking to the level expected of you when expectations are low
• Prejudice and discrimination
Behavioural assimilation – Bargh et al., (1996)
Prejudice Pt1
Categorisation
• Category = collections of instances that have a family resemblance organised around a
prototype
• Prototypes (theory) = cognitive representation of typical defining features of a category
o Standards against which family resemblance is assessed & category
membership decided
• Categories not rigid, but fuzzy
o More or less typical of the category
o Depending on the prototype
o Categorisation of less typical members more difficult
Why do we categorise?
• Save cognitive energy
o Saves time & cognitive processing
o Simplify how individuals think about world
• Clarifies and refines perception of the world
o Once category is activated – tend to see members as processing all traits of
the stereotype
o Reducing uncertainty, predict social world
• Maintain a positive self-esteem
o Motivational function for social identity & self-concept
Stereotypes: Illusory Correlation
• Negative stereotypes may occur when people inaccurately pair minority groups with
negative events/behaviours because they are both extinct:
o Hamilton and Sherman (1996)
▪ Asked White American participants to estimate the arrest rate
of various types of American.
▪ African Americans were estimated to have a higher arrest rate
than they did
Effects of stereotyping
• Behavioural assimilation
o Stereotypes don’t just influence our perceptions of others; they can
influence our own behaviour
• Stereotype threat
o The threat of negative evaluations can actually lead to poor performance,
e.g. sinking to the level expected of you when expectations are low
• Prejudice and discrimination
Behavioural assimilation – Bargh et al., (1996)
