So I thought I'd share some studies on automatic processing (subconscious, as it were) as it relates to stereotyping.
Firstly, the term:
Stereotype: a basic cognitive strategy. Mental images which organize and simplify the world into categories on the basis of common properties. Often used in forming an instant or fixed understanding of a group or people which can then result in racist or discriminatory actions. Shared idea about generalized attributes of others with respect to perceived physical or cultural characteristics.
Some may seem positive but are actually always negative. This is harmful when individuals are judged based on perceived attributes of their group instead of personal merit.
Sociologist Charles E. Hurst states that, “One reason for stereotypes is the lack of personal, concrete familiarity that individuals have with persons in other racial or ethnic groups. Lack of familiarity encourages the lumping together of unknown individuals”.
People also tend to stereotype because of the need to feel good about oneself. Stereotypes protect one from anxiety and enhance self-esteem. By designating one’s own group as the standard or normal group and assigning others to groups considered inferior or abnormal, it provides one with a sense of worth.
see defense mechanisms:
Childhood influences are some of the most complex and influential factors in developing stereotypes. Though they can be absorbed at any age, stereotypes are usually acquired in early childhood under the influence of parents, teachers, peers, and the media. Once a stereotype is learned, it often becomes self-perpetuating.
Stereotype(s)+Value(s)= Prejudice
We all do it; we stereotype and it don’t matter if you're black or white… (but you can still be my Baby). However, we can choose whether or not to actively endorse these stereotypes but it does take time and effort, literally:
Exhibit A) Primed Elderly Stereotype
Harvard’s Djikic1 & Langer (2008) found that, similar to studies conducted in the past, when university students were primed on dimensions of Old Age e.g.) sort words stereotypically related to old people (grey, weak) that are mixed in with neutral words (apples, picture), they will act in a different way than if they had not been exposed to the stimulus. Those who had to consciously think about 'Old' words walked more quickly between stations whereas those who passively sorted words walked much more slowly due to an automatic stereotype- which influenced behaviour.
Exhibit B) Canadians are Not Push-Overs
Another study, this time on National character, showed no correlation between self-reports and actual personality measures.
For instance, Americans believe the typical American is very assertive, and Canadians believe the typical Canadian is submissive, but in fact Americans and Canadians have almost identical scores on measures of assertiveness, a little above the world average. Likewise, the researchers found that Indian citizens type themselves as unconventional and open to a wide range of new experiences, but measurements of personality show that they are more conventional than the rest of the people in the world.
Exhibit C) To Endorse or not to Endorse
All students in a study were able to think of stereotypes of blacks and all presumed a black man acted aggressively whether or not they believed in the stereotype that blacks are hostile. However, non-prejudiced students who were given a chance to reflect on the accuracy of their assumptions, changed their initial automatic or reflexive response and were able to express their non-prejudiced beliefs through a written response.
The Implicit Bias Test measures unconscious automatic preferences towards one group over another and was first tested on Black/White stereotypes with both races endorsing an implicit bias towards Whites presumably through years of reinforcement from social learning.
The study now is expanding to research institutes and organizations across the world who are beginning to value the importance of understanding bias. Someone can claim to be colorblind but unless you have a disorder on the Autism Spectrum or a pervasive developmental disability you most likely are not.
You can check out your biases here:
http://www.projectimplicit.net/
and participate in research here:
https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/research/ As researchers point out, it is only through self-awareness and experience that one can lower implicit bias that can lead to decreased prejudice and discrimination. Further reading: Newsweek- The Stereotype Trap
We like to think we are rational beings. Heck, we put a person on the moon, manufactured the internet and…I got all the important ones, right?
Bottom line is this: in the relative history of humans our cortex is a pretty new player who has been consistently voted MVP since her inception and the subconscious system is the black sheep we wish we could forget. We can rationalize, justify, deny, intellectualize until the cows come home but beneath it all, we are animals who have the ability to deceive in order to maintain our self-concept.
Issues as important as organ donation are decided by the layout of the little boxes on the form. Many voters attend polls in hopes of being seen fulfilling their societal duty by neighbours or acquaintances.
If something is innate can we not then just give in since it's only natural? Of course not. Obviously humans are capable of higher functions but should seek to understand those things beyond our realm of controlled processing (conscious thought). To become aware of the ways in which we are not aware. Everything from advertising to pornography, annoying 'ear worms' (that song you cannot get out of your head) to propaganda posters and radio clips seek to exploit the naivety and vulnerability of our primitive 'reptilian' brain so be aware. Question your own beliefs: Where did they come from? Are they really true? Why do you think that?
To group something as complex as a human being into gross generalizations (categorizations) such as we do apples and oranges is categorically harmful
The alternative, which we would want for ourselves, is to be treated as an individual and evaluated based on our interactions with a certain person.
If I'm unsure of something and I think it's something that won't get me a beat down, I just ask. Start a conversation. Don't assume as it makes an ASS out of U and ME (get it?!)
If you are in doubt over whether or not you can have an effect, after all, unfair social categorization is a massive problem in all walks of life and is something we're exposed to from the moment we exit the womb, watch the following.
Seems like the kids are alright.
The first problem for all of us,... is not to learn, but to unlearn- Gloria Steinem
