What are the dansgers of stereotyping people - Essay Example

Dangers of Stereotyping Stereotyping is the associating and attributing of specific characteristics to a particular group. It involves overgeneralizing and exaggeration of either the positive or the negative value of certain characteristics of members of a particular group (Schneider 9). Stereotypes are those typical images or pictures that come to mind when one thinks about a particular group. Stereotyping involves creating reflective beliefs and information about the traits that characterize typical members of a particular group as well as their other qualities such as social roles, the degree to which members of the group share specific qualities and influence emotional reactions of the members.

Stereotyping infers a considerable amount of information about individuals beyond their apparent superficial qualities and generates expectations about their expected behavior in various situations. Stereotypes are frequently based around common aspects of a particular group including profession and occupation, sex, religious beliefs and practices, age, race and ethnicity, dressing, speech and body shape (Macrae, Stangor & Hewstone 8). There are dangers associated with stereotyping such as promoting discrimination and bias because stereotypes lack accuracy, applying stereotypes broadly such that individual characteristics are overlooked, making serious misjudgments about people and distorting the view of a particular group and consequently damaging relationships.

One danger of stereotyping is that it takes on universal meaning, being applied to all members of a particular group. If this occurs with lack of accuracy, stereotyping not only becomes damaging, but also affects the way those who are thought to belong to the particular group being stereotyped are talked about and treated. It is apparent that how a group of people is seen influences in part how they are treated. Stereotypes may come to be the accepted way of thinking about members of a particular group, with no acknowledgement of diverse individual characteristics.

Stereotyping can result in misunderstandings, which, if not challenged, can severely damage relationships among different groups. An example of this is the race riots and violence of 1980s (Brunsch 9).Stereotyping results in discrimination and persecution of the oppressed groups. For instance, the stereotyping of Asian Americans has led to denial of their civil rights and even homicide such as the killing of Chinese American Vincent Chin by individuals who thought he was a Japanese American (Brunsch 10).

Moreover, stereotyping reinforces discrimination and justifies the prejudiced treatment of certain groups. Besides the likelihood of getting it wrong, if the people being stereotyped become aware of it, they will most likely feel affronted. Stereotyping could make a person or members of a particular cohort to devalue themselves since they view themselves as a reflection of what other think of them. For instance, if an individual is treated respectfully, he or she feels respectable and practices respectable ways.

Conversely, if an individual is beheld as helpless and not capable of making his or her own decisions, this may erode his or her self-confidence ultimately affecting the individual’s ability to handle personal affairs and making them gradually more dependent on others. In conclusion, stereotyping is the action of associating and attributing specific characteristics to a group. Many dangers are associated with stereotyping. It takes on universal meaning and applies them to all members of a particular group.

This means that stereotypes may come to be the accepted way of thinking about members of a particular group. Stereotyping reinforces discrimination and justifies the prejudiced treatment of certain groups. Stereotyping could make a person or members of a particular group to devalue themselves since they view themselves as a reflection of what other think of them.Works CitedBrunsch, Claudia. Stereotyping as a phenomenon in intercultural communication. GRIN VERLAG, 2007. Print Macrae, Neil, Stangor Charles and Hewstone.

Stereotypes and stereotyping. New York, the Guildford press, 1996. Print.Schneider, David. The psychology of stereotyping. New York: The Guildford press, 2004.Print