Social stereotype is a way of perceiving phenomena and patterns of behavior that are often repeated. It is formed in the process of personality development. Stereotypes are determined by the degree of socialization of the individual, the impact of the team, traditions, as well as their own experience.
The concept
A person cannot exist outside of society. Being a part of society, it must accept the rules of society and follow them. In particular, people daily come across stereotypes - simplified ideas about a phenomenon or object.
The term "social stereotype" was coined by W. Lippman. Since then, this phrase has been given many definitions, depending on the specialization and direction of the author. Tashfel succeeded in summarizing the studies of various authors in this field. He formulated the following conclusions:
- stereotypical thinking is characteristic of man ; he readily gives simple biased characteristics to certain groups of people;
- categorization allows you to maintain a stable socio-political situation over a long time period;
- stereotypes can change along with the political and economic situation, but this happens extremely rarely, usually quite painfully and slowly;
- stereotypes are most pronounced in moments of hostility between certain groups;
- stereotypes are assimilated and accepted by people in early childhood, when the process of personality formation begins.
Key features of social stereotypes
Social stereotype is an integral part of all spheres of life of a modern person. This category has the following key features:
- It determines how certain situations in life will be perceived. Thus, we can say that a person does not know the world around him directly, but through stereotypes that have developed in society or are formed in consciousness.
- Formalizes and depersonalizes communication, which serves as some way of "saving" a mental resource. Thanks to stereotypes, the brain acts automatically, comparing the existing situation with a previously formed model.
- Includes a description and characterization of the situation. This helps to reduce the time to develop a response and evaluate a specific event or incident.
- It is characterized by persistence and continuity. As a rule, stereotypes pass from generation to generation, despite their objectivity or subjectivity. Moreover, followers do not always wonder about the fidelity and legality of the judgments imposed on them.
Stereotype Functions
Social stereotype is an integral part of human life. Despite the fact that this phrase, as a rule, causes negative associations, this phenomenon is important for society. Positive stereotypes perform such important functions:
- Simplification and systematization of complex information flows. Every day, a person is faced with huge information flows, which he cannot physically process always physically. Formed social perception eliminates the need to respond to certain often recurring phenomena. On the one hand, stereotyping saves a mental resource, and on the other, it reflects social reality.
- Intergroup differentiation by evaluative comparison. Thus, representatives of one social group more easily establish relationships through self-identification. It also helps to ensure the integrity of society and clearly distributes intergroup roles.
- Explanation of established intergroup relations. Since time immemorial, stereotyping has been a powerful political mechanism for subjugating the masses. Its role can be both positive (creating public order) and negative (oppression, suppression, enslavement).
The role of stereotypes
Based on these functions, we can formulate the role of social stereotypes in the life of society. It is worth paying attention to such significant points:
- Intergroup differences are maximized. Thus, the roles and hierarchy of subordination are distributed in society.
- Similarities between group members are maximized. This strengthens the bonds within the social formation.
- Intergroup similarity is minimized. This creates certain barriers to the transition between social groups. Thus, the number of groups and the relationship between them remain stable.
- Minimizing differences within a group. Inside a social formation, any beliefs that do not correspond to the accepted concept are suppressed.
Levels of stereotyping
It is impossible to imagine the existence of man outside society. In the process of development of society, stereotypes are certainly forming. This process is carried out at four levels:
- individual - based on the psychological characteristics of each specific person, as well as his personal experience, certain ideas about groups and phenomena are formed;
- interpersonal interaction - in the process of contacts between people, beliefs are formed by transferring experience to each other;
- collective - the formation of stereotypes in the process of cooperation of several groups;
- high - an ideology formed under the influence of historical events or the authority of political figures.
Public Opinion Mechanisms
Given the limited personal experience of the vast majority of people, a social stereotype is an effective mechanism for manipulating public thinking, which is often used by the media, government organizations, and so on. Here are the main ways to shape public opinion:
- Shortcuts A certain image of the ideal person is created, under which they customize the audience. As a rule, the mechanism is used to eliminate competition or to subordinate the masses of people.
- "Pleasant uncertainty." The essence of this mechanism is that the idea presented to society does not have a clear and well-defined meaning. Nevertheless, it causes positive associations in the vast majority of people.
- "Opinion of the majority." To convince the audience of the correctness of the judgment, a trick is used, according to which the vast majority of people hold this opinion.
Stereotypes of mass behavior
The formation of stereotypes applies not only to large social groups or common phenomena, but also to special cases. As a rule, the following phenomena influence people's consciousness:
- Rumors are information that quickly spreads through informal channels. As a rule, the message is based on some real fact, but its description is colored by suggestive shades and does not always correspond to reality. Interestingly, transmitting and perceiving rumors, people, as a rule, do not think about their truth or deceit. In the course of distribution, rumors may change and acquire new details.
- Fashion is a stable, but short-lived idea of behavior, appearance, kind of activity and so on. As a rule, the understanding of fashion is not the same for different social groups. Interestingly, this phenomenon is characterized by cyclicality. The same idea is first praised, then rejected, and later again becomes relevant.
- Mass addictions are phenomena that, in the process of interpersonal interaction, quickly form and spread. Their essence is the desire to satisfy various desires and passions. These can be either frivolous hobbies or serious political convictions.
What are gender stereotypes
Gender stereotypes are a public idea of the specific behavior of men and women. This phenomenon is closely related to the distribution of gender roles and their support. The severity of stereotyping significantly varies in different countries, societies and social groups, due to culture, religion and living standards. As a rule, gender stereotypes support gender inequality in society.
The study of the psychological characteristics of representatives of different sexes has interested scientists from time immemorial. The main goal is to find confirmation or disprove the existence of gender roles. But no scientist has yet succeeded in achieving this goal. The result of most studies is that in the psychology and behavior of men and women there are more similar characteristics than differences. Nevertheless, emotional and behavioral manifestations in various situations do not make it possible to put an equal sign between the sexes.
Without thinking about what gender stereotypes are, in some societies they are distorted in order to diminish the meaning and rights of the opposite sex. There are such cognitive distortions:
- The belief in the justice of the world. It is believed that everything that happens is fair, and people deserve any adverse events themselves. In this context, gender inequality is justified by biological characteristics, and injustice is considered natural.
- The illusion of correlation is a belief in the connection between phenomena, even if there is no confirmation of this. This refers to the belief that gender determines behavior and character traits. Moreover, those facts that refute this statement are ignored or perceived negatively.
- Cascade of available information - implies a collective belief in what is repeatedly repeated in public speaking. As a rule, social stereotypes of behavior are shown in the media. At the same time, characteristics common to different genders are usually ignored.
- A self-fulfilling prophecy is a false understanding of the situation, provoking new behavior and circumstances confirming the original erroneous theory. This phenomenon is especially pronounced in families, when parents, based on the gender of their children, distort their hobbies, inclinations, and possible achievements. Thus, regardless of their own desires, children follow the path determined by the parents, as if confirming their correctness.
What are national stereotypes
Ethnic stereotypes are ideas about the behavior, mentality or beliefs of representatives of a particular nation. National stereotypes, as a rule, give a simplified, one-sided, and sometimes distorted view. What can not be said about autostereotypes, which, as a rule, are aimed at praising, uniting and preserving the nation.
The formation of ethnic stereotypes occurs under the influence of such basic factors:
- features of behavior enshrined in culture and consciousness due to historical development;
- socio-political conditions and characteristics of interaction between groups and classes;
- long contacts with representatives of other ethnic groups.
In most cases, national stereotypes are harmless. They are actively exploited in advertising, cultural and humorous spheres. Nevertheless, they often become the cause of ethnic hatred and hatred.
Stereotypical effects
It is wrong to perceive the concept of social stereotypes solely as the result of life experience. Sometimes they are formed under the influence of effects that provoke distorted and erroneous judgments.
- Primary effect. As a rule, the information that entered the brain first is considered the most correct and undeniable. It may be, for example, about the first impression, which, as a rule, is formed within 10 minutes from the moment of acquaintance.
- Halo effect. As a rule, emotionally charged information is perceived in a distorted form. If the topic excites the interlocutor, then it can make him make up a false negative or erroneous positive impression about someone.
- The effect of social context. Against the background of positive events or a positive group of people, the impression of any person will be much better than in a negative environment. The culture of the individual and society is such that circumstances and surroundings leave an imprint on the reputation.
- Boomerang effect. Surrounding perceive a person in accordance with his actions in relation to other people.
- Repetition effect. Often repeated behavior begins to be perceived as correct. Any new trends are perceived with caution or even aggression.
Examples of stereotypes
Speaking of stereotypes, it is worth noting that they predetermine human behavior and many life situations. Of the most common beliefs, it is worth paying attention to such examples:
- young people listen only to rock;
- women are dumber than men;
- all men want only one thing from women;
- all Japanese on one face;
- all women seek to get married;
- Jews are greedy;
- in a small city life is safer than in a metropolis;
- all husbands are traitors;
- the highest quality machines are made in Germany;
- all the balts are slow;
- all young people are frivolous;
- the best rappers are blacks.
Ways to identify stereotypes
The influence of stereotypes on human behavior and lifestyle is so great that it is not always clear where the truth is and where the error is. Identify an artificial or false stereotype is possible thanks to the following basic methods:
- finding persistent, unchanging topics for conversation in your environment;
- filling out questionnaires or interviewing;
- the method of incomplete sentences (the experimenter begins a phrase describing a phenomenon, and the subject must continue it);
- identification of associations (a person or group of people is given 30 seconds to formulate an attitude to an object or phenomenon).
Breaking down stereotypes
Strong personalities who do not want to be within the framework of public opinion are always in search of an effective solution to how to break the stereotype. Based on life examples, several common stereotypes and ways of dealing with them can be distinguished:
- Children are required to meet the expectations of their parents. An adult who feels the pressure of his parents should explain to them that he came to this world in order to fulfill his unique mission, and not live according to someone else's scenario. The role of parents is to accept the child as he is and to be support for him.
- Every woman must get married. This is a belief that has been imposed on girls from early childhood. Nevertheless, society is losing sight of the fact that such a distribution of roles as “a man is a breadwinner and a woman is a keeper of a hearth” is less and less relevant for the present. Today, the fair sex is more powerful, independent and self-confident than several generations ago. She provides herself, has a lot of interests and hobbies. If a woman considers it necessary to realize herself not only in her career, but also in the family, she will certainly do it.
- Appearance is more important than the inner world. Indeed, it is the appearance that creates the first impression. Moreover, there was a clear idea that a beautiful person is a good person. Nevertheless, there are examples of history where unattractive people deserved world recognition, and beautiful people were at the bottom of the social ladder.
- Men do not cry. Humanity believes that tears are an exclusively female privilege. Nevertheless, such an emotional outburst and spiritual purification are necessary for everyone, regardless of gender. By holding the negative within, a person provokes mental and physical illness.
- Single mothers are unhappy. Sometimes a woman in marriage is more unhappy than being free. If the spouse is rude to his wife, drinks or is inclined to domestic violence, such an alliance should not be maintained, despite public opinion. In addition, an incomplete family is more preferable for a child than constant parental scandals.