Stereotyping as Social-Psychological Phenomena - Research Paper Example

Stereotyping as Social-Psychological Phenomena by Throughout the history of sociology and psychology scientists were trying to reveal the concept of stereotyping. Despite the fact that the world is becoming more connected and mixed due to globalization trends this notion does not fade away. A stereotype is the image that appears in the mind when a person thinks of a certain social group; it is usually created when a person applies his imagination of a “typical example” to the representatives of the whole group (Lippmann, 1922). While earlier studies viewed stereotypes as” inflexible and faulty” work of the mind, recent research focuses on their dynamic and malleable nature (Dovidio, Hewstone, Esses, & Glick, 2010). Stereotypes give general information about the specific traits of the group, social roles and specific qualities of its members. Stereotypes provide with generalized information beyond visible image and imply certain expectation from the members of the group. Stereotypes make people perceive ready-made characteristics or behavioral patterns of others quickly. For instance, Black are usually associated with aggression in the USA that is why they are faster recognized as connected to crime than Whites. Stereotypes are aimed to shape the perception of the world without excessive efforts. Stereotypes make information more primitive and simple but they help to identify, categorize, and recognize phenomena faster. Stereotypes arise even before judgments and logical thoughts, that is why it is possible to claim that stereotypes are aimed to save tome in social interaction (Tajifel, 1981). According to the significant research work performed by Princeton University most students had common stereotypes regarding Germans, Jews, Chinese, and Americans. However, Second World War had major influence on the substantial stereotypes change. New attributions regarding Germans as “aggressive” and about Japanese as “cunning” appeared. In a decade negative attitude mitigated sufficiently, but the phenomenon of stereotyping became even more promoted. The very appearance and spread of biases is often encouraged by mass media. For instance, Native Americans, Afro-Americans, Mexicans were and sometimes remain discredited in the movies. In one of the most popular Hollywood films “Gone with the Winds” servants who were only Blacks were pictured as dependable and infantile. It is only with the racial equality promotion policy of the 1960s minorities lost some negative attributions in mass perception (Cultural Diversity). One of the early theories that aimed to explain stereotypes origination in people was Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis offered by Dollard, Doob, Miller et al (1939). It was based on Freudian psychodynamic theory which stated that psychic energy accumulation due to society`s limitations on instincts inevitably transforms into aggression and frustration, which serves as a catalyst to social prejudice and hostility. Moreover, personal release or expression of prejudice has a cathartic function since the suppressed energy is released and personal energy balance is restored (Dovido et al., 2010). The elements of Freudian theory were accepted and modified by Dollard et al., who suggested that the source of aggression has a different nature. Presumably, people are not able to express their aggression on the true source of frustration and have to substitute it with the accessible target which is often understood as a concept of scapegoating. However, the scientists did not deny that aggression discharge is a necessary function, but in this case it was “a response to circumstances that interfered with goal-directed activity, not as an innate drive” (Dovido et al., 2010). The theory itself was invented to explain the relationship between economic inequality and its projection in the society. This type of stereotyping evoked predominately negative prejudices appearance. In this way drug addicts are often depicted as aggressive black young Americans. This image is often too concentrated as it is known that hard drugs are common among middle-class whites as well. On this example it is easy to follow the whole concept of stereotyping when the concept of drug addiction is not explored deep, and on the superficial level perceived as connected to black youth despite the fact that it does not depend on race, age, sex, and any other factors (Cultural Diversity). . However, not all the scientists viewed stereotyping in negative light. According to Tajfel, categorization was the major factor influencing biases origination (1969). He continued exploring the point of view of Allport, who considered that false generalization and animosity is instinctive to people who are prone to categorize others basing on their group perception rather than personal. Moreover, the researcher admitted that human beings have to think in categories which allow forming necessary judgments and placing phenomena in order (1954). Thus, Tajfei continued prejudices and stereotypes exploration from the point of view of their inevitability for human mind. He believed that biases and stereotypes allow people to acquire membership in certain group and comprehend the laws of social world. Mostly people do not understand the actions of the other group members when they infringe them and invent stereotypes to explain these phenomena. This thought made possible further development of “social cognition” concept, which was popular in the 1970s (Dovidio et al., 2010). Classification and categorization allows people to rank other to certain groups in the way when representatives of personal group are viewed as similar, while members of the different groups viewed as those having hyperbolized traits, often negative. That is why on emotional level members of common group are perceived positively while members of the other group are perceived negatively (Tajfei, 1969). Corporate culture is based on this phenomena understanding. When the employees of competent company or brand are viewed as hostile, less professional, and not pleasant but if the person changes his place of work he sees exaggerated traits and accepts new group members as positive and trustworthy despite previous emotional attitude (Dovido et al., 2010). The theories regard human psychic energy in a quite different way. Frustration- Aggression Hypothesis under which it is possible to shape all the theories of this direction sees psychic energy as instinctive, animal coming from the depth of unconscious very much alike as Freud viewed it. In this way people are perceived as rivals since they want to achieve the same resources. Thus, aggression is inevitable, and people need to release it creating stereotypes about others. This theory probably concentrates on negative stereotypes more as there positive stereotypes. With this theory it is possible to explain why beautiful women were stereotyped as being witches (envy and aggression) but cannot be applied to the common modern belief such as Asians are mathematically gifted. The theory of Tajfei does not regard psychic energy as a driving force and does not concentrate on its animal nature. He accepts the power of conscious which is regulated by human efforts. In this theory the specific method of information analysis -categorization is underlined as the most influential. However, this theory cannot be applied to the situations when some irrational stereotypes appear. For instance, there exist a number of prejudices connected to red-haired people which cannot be created out of categorization. Whereas Frustration-Aggression theories cannot be applied to positive stereotypes, which state that Latin Americans are good dancers, for example or Black must necessarily play basketball very well. These theories are not completely opposite and probably cannot be submerged into one. People cannot be perceived as acting out of instinctive internal forces as well as neglecting subconscious and acting only logically. Probably when someone creates or perceives stereotypes both motives become active. It can proved by the fact that despite rational justification saying for instance that not all the Jews are not necessarily can run a profitable business these stereotypes do not vanish with time. References Allport, G. W. (1954). The Nature of Prejudice. Cambridge, MA: Addison-Wesley. Cultural Diversity. (2014). Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education. Retrieved from:  http://www.texas-poseit.org/textcourses/culturaldiversity/pageview.asp?unit=chap1.htm&cur_id=676970 Dovidio, J., Hewstone, M., Glick, P., & Esses V. (2010). Prejudice, Stereotyping, and Discrimination. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. Lippmann, W. (1922). Public Opinion. London: Greenbook Publications. Tajfel, H. (1981). Social stereotypes and social groups. Intergroup behaviour. Oxford: Blackwell. Read More