A stereotype is a fixed, oversampled idea about a particular social category or collective
culture that strongly influences our expectation and behaviors. The tendency to make
systematic errors is called bias. Stereotypes maximize differences between cultures and
minimize similarity within a culture. Stereotypes are not handy when you negotiate.
Stereotyping is a survival mechanism that helps us to make quick judgements based on
limited information, however with all the information nowadays quick thinking can have
shortcomings. We assume that certain groups may share some outward expressions and
values (collective level). We assume that every single person at this level also shares exactly
the same expressions and values (individual). When we are stereotyping we deny people’s
individual identity. We only see what we want to see (cognitive dissonance).
Pitfalls of stereotypes are: stereotypes can be stronger than fact and rationality. People will
strengthen their false belief if deep-seated values are challenged. Our brain can also distort
images to fit our stereotypes. Stereotypes exclude those who don’t fit the boxes. Stereotype
threats create anxiety that results in lower performance and self-fulfilling prophecies.
Positive stereotypes create burden, dismiss problems and deepen group conflicts. Prejudices
are rooted in the biological need to categorize other groups ns to love our own
culture/group. Prejudices are formed when one group perceives the other as a threat to
their economic, political or cultural interest. The blame game is a point where an individual
or a group gets the all the blame (scapegoat). Conscious discrimination: a system of disparity
among various groups. Subconscious discriminations: less obvious but still pervasive. Tokens
feel very visible and suffer from stereotype threat, because they stand out and others see
them not as unique but as a collective culture they represent. Affirmative action is useful to
create a level of playfield it can be seen as a reverse discrimination.
Amygdala: reacts fast without thinking it helps to survive (snake rattling). ACC: is helping us
to judge and elicit error, controlling emotion and rational thinking. Macroaggressions:
comments that are not meant to be judgmental or mean but they are. Four critical for
determining whether cultural information is valid and not just a stereotype or prejudice: it
descriptive and not judgmental, it is verifiable from more than one independent source, it
applies to a statistical majority and it compares between different populations.
Stereotypes and prejudices are created from available social cues. We can unlearn them.
Challenge these cues and change the culture around us by: training the brain to resist
amygdala’s impulse and listen more to the ACC. Matching the criteria to distinguish between
stereotype and cultural fact. Checking language and environment for macroaggressions.
Exposing counting-stereotypes. Collecting data. Creating a vigilant culture against biases.
Creating and recreating groups to be on the same side.
culture that strongly influences our expectation and behaviors. The tendency to make
systematic errors is called bias. Stereotypes maximize differences between cultures and
minimize similarity within a culture. Stereotypes are not handy when you negotiate.
Stereotyping is a survival mechanism that helps us to make quick judgements based on
limited information, however with all the information nowadays quick thinking can have
shortcomings. We assume that certain groups may share some outward expressions and
values (collective level). We assume that every single person at this level also shares exactly
the same expressions and values (individual). When we are stereotyping we deny people’s
individual identity. We only see what we want to see (cognitive dissonance).
Pitfalls of stereotypes are: stereotypes can be stronger than fact and rationality. People will
strengthen their false belief if deep-seated values are challenged. Our brain can also distort
images to fit our stereotypes. Stereotypes exclude those who don’t fit the boxes. Stereotype
threats create anxiety that results in lower performance and self-fulfilling prophecies.
Positive stereotypes create burden, dismiss problems and deepen group conflicts. Prejudices
are rooted in the biological need to categorize other groups ns to love our own
culture/group. Prejudices are formed when one group perceives the other as a threat to
their economic, political or cultural interest. The blame game is a point where an individual
or a group gets the all the blame (scapegoat). Conscious discrimination: a system of disparity
among various groups. Subconscious discriminations: less obvious but still pervasive. Tokens
feel very visible and suffer from stereotype threat, because they stand out and others see
them not as unique but as a collective culture they represent. Affirmative action is useful to
create a level of playfield it can be seen as a reverse discrimination.
Amygdala: reacts fast without thinking it helps to survive (snake rattling). ACC: is helping us
to judge and elicit error, controlling emotion and rational thinking. Macroaggressions:
comments that are not meant to be judgmental or mean but they are. Four critical for
determining whether cultural information is valid and not just a stereotype or prejudice: it
descriptive and not judgmental, it is verifiable from more than one independent source, it
applies to a statistical majority and it compares between different populations.
Stereotypes and prejudices are created from available social cues. We can unlearn them.
Challenge these cues and change the culture around us by: training the brain to resist
amygdala’s impulse and listen more to the ACC. Matching the criteria to distinguish between
stereotype and cultural fact. Checking language and environment for macroaggressions.
Exposing counting-stereotypes. Collecting data. Creating a vigilant culture against biases.
Creating and recreating groups to be on the same side.
