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Stereotypes are ideas about members of other particular groups, based primarily on membership in that group. They may be positive or negative Prejudicial , and may be used to justify certain Discriminatory Behaviors . Some people consider all stereotypes to be negative. Stereotypes are rarely completely accurate, based on some kernel of truth, or completely fabricated. Different disciplines give different accounts of how stereotypes develop: Psychologists focus on how experience with groups, patterns of communication about the groups, and intergroup conflict. Sociologists focus on the relations among groups and position of different groups in a social structure. Psychoanalytically-oriented humanists have argued (e.g., Sander Gilman) that stereotypes, ''by definition'', are never accurate representations, but a projection of an individual's fears onto others, regardless of the reality of others. Although stereotypes are rarely entirely accurate, statistical studies have shown that in some cases stereotypes do represent measurable facts. DESCRIPTION Stereotypes are assumed characteristics based on a large group of individuals whose beliefs, habits, and actions are perceived to be similar. Stereotype production can be based on:
Stereotypes are seen by many as undesirable beliefs imposed to justify the acts of discrimination and oppression. It is thought that education and/or familiarization can change these incorrect beliefs. Other negative effects are:
There's usually more than one stereotype for the same group: Black men are generally supposed to be good musicians and basketball players, but at the same time seen as aggressive, prone to lives of crime, and likely to be on drugs. The effects of stereotypes can have positive and negative effects: Students who were implicitly made aware of their gender behaved as the stereotype suggested: Asian-American women performed better in math tests when being aware of being Asian, and did worse when being reminded of being women. {Link without Title} Stereotyping can also be created by the media, showing an incorrect judgment of a culture or place. Often the terms ''stereotype'' and '' Prejudice '' are confused:
STEREOTYPE INEVITABILITY See Also: stereotype inevitability ''Prejudices'' are usually based on general ''Stereotypical conceptions'' of our everyday "reality" (including ''persons ourselves , objects processes, facts, value-norms, rules'' etc.). However, they need to be converted into "attitudes", in order to be considered as "prejudices", and they usually carry a negative connotation. D. Mallios HARM OF STEREOTYPING Stereotyping makes people feel like they don't have the freedom to be who they want to be. STEREOTYPES OF GROUPS Common stereotypes include a variety of allegations about groups based on Age , Ethnicity , Gender , Nationality , disability, Profession , Sexual Orientation , Race , Religious belief, size, Species , physical appearance, and Social Class (see Social Stereotype ). Stereotypes can also be based on individual impairments. STEREOTYPES IN CULTURE Stereotypes are common in the world of Drama , where the term is often used as a form of dramatic Shorthand for " Stock Character ". Increasingly the ''active use'' of stereotypes in Drama is a prerequisite for an audience accepting them as legitimate. The unwitting use of stereotypes appears hackneyed to a postmodern audience who refuses to tolerate the representation of individuals as simply the stereotype. Examples of ''active use'' are found in the work of Brecht and other dramatic styles which allow the actor to demonstrate a character with a degree of ''role distance'', thus showing the ''active use''. The Italian Commedia Dell'arte was known for its Stock Character s and stock situations, which could be considered drama stereotypes. Retrospectively these Stock Characters have been illuminated by the work of Brecht , Dario Fo and Jacques Lecoq , and revealed to be far from simple stereotypes in their current Evolution , despite their original reference to local Italian stereotypes in their early Genesis . Importantly in drama the actor does not create a stereotype rather their Characterisation may be simple in that they represent an uncritical reflection of the stereotype, and it is this simplicity which aggravates a Postmodern audience. A subtle and detailed Characterisation , especially of the commedia Dell'arte stock characters, results in a unique and immediate performance that will be enjoyed by an audience due to the clear active use of the characters by the actor. In Literature and Art , stereotypes are Cliché d or predictable characters or situations. For example, the stereotypical Devil is a red, impish character with horns, bifurcated tail, and a Trident , whilst the stereotypical Sales man is a slickly-dressed, fast-talking individual who cannot usually be trusted. Throughout history, storytellers have drawn from stereotypical characters and situations, in order to quickly connect the audience with new tales. Sometimes such stereotypes can be very complex and sophisticated, such as Shakespeare 's Shylock in ''The Merchant of Venice''. Arguably a stereotype that becomes complex and sophisticated ceases to be a stereotype ''per se'' by its unique Characterisation . Thus while Shylock remains politically unstable in being a stereotypical Jew , the subject of Prejudicial derision in Shakespeare's era, his many other detailed features raise him above a simple stereotype and into a unique character, worthy of modern performance. Simply because a feature of a character can be categorized as being typical does not make the entire character a stereotype. Despite their proximity in etymological roots, Cliché and stereotype are not used synonymously in cultural spheres. For example a Cliché is a high criticism in Narratology where Genre and Categorization automatically associates a story within its recognizable group. Labelling a situation or character in a story as ''typical'' suggests it is fitting for its Genre or Category . Whereas declaring that a storyteller has relied on Cliché is to pejoratively observe a simplicity and lack of originality in the tale. To criticize Ian Fleming for a ''stereotypically'' unlikely escape for James Bond would be understood by the reader or listener, but it would be more appropriately criticized as a Cliché in that it is overused and reproduced. Narrative Genre relies heavily on ''typical'' features to remain recognizable and generate meaning in the reader/viewer. Of course, there is plenty of room for criticizing the representation of the ' Bond Girls ' as stereotypical. The instantly recognisable nature of stereotypes mean that they are very useful in producing effective Advertising and Situation Comedy . Media stereotypes change and evolve over time - for instance, we now instantly recognize only a few of the stereotyped characters shown to us in John Bunyan 's '' The Pilgrim's Progress ''. The teen Sitcom , Saved By The Bell features a typical group of high school stereotypes such as a class clown ( Zack Morris ), a jock ( A.C. Slater ), a nerd ( Samuel "Screech" Powers ), a cheerleader ( Kelly Kapowski ), a feminist ( Jessie Spano ), and a superficial fashion plate ( Lisa Turtle ). Some observed the sitcom, like many teen sitcoms of that time, in addition to stereotyping people, stereotyping an institution itself, that of high school. TV stereotypes of high schools have often promoted a "typical American school" as football games, fashion styles, skirt chasing, and not much devotion to academics or studying. ETYMOLOGY The word ''stereotype'' was invented by '', 2006, 3-10. In fact, '' Cliché '' and stereotype were both originally printers' words, and in their literal printers' meanings were synonymous. Specifically, Cliché was a French word for the printing surface for a stereotype.Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage. Springfield, Illinois: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 1994. p. 250. The first reference to "stereotype", in its modern, English use was in 1850, in the noun, meaning "image perpetuated without change".http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=stereotype ETHOLOGY In Ethology , stereotyped behavior or Fixed Action Pattern is an Innate , pre-programed response that is repeated when an animal is exposed to an environmental Innate Releasing Mechanism . SEE ALSO
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