Stereotypes and Generalizations Lecturette Outline
A. The word stereotype means “categorizing all members of a group as having the same characteristics.”
B. Stereotypes may or may not be based on tangible facts and can be positive (Asians are good students) or negative (Americans are superficial).
C. Stereotypes tend to be inflexible and resistant to new information.
D. They can, and often do, lead to prejudice and intentional or unintentional discrimination (e.g., women are nurturing and will therefore make good nurses).
A. The word generalization means “categorizing many members of a group as having similar characteristics.”
B. Generalizations are based on considerable research or many observations in a wide range of situations.
C. Generalizations are flexible and open to new information.
D. They can lead to increased curiosity and awareness and improved cross-cultural relationships (e.g., many women are nurturing, and those who are may be good candidates for the nursing field).
The most important thing to remember about stereotypes is how inflexible they are. Once we have adopted a stereotype, whether it is conscious or not, our inclination is to believe it is right and to act on it; the stereotype thus becomes entrenched in our responses. Generalizations, on the other hand, allow us a place to begin thinking, but we remain open to examining the situation from other perspectives. This process allows us to revise a generalization based on new information.
The goal is to reduce rigidly held stereotypes and encourage more use of generalizations that keep us open to new information and tend to improve relationships.