What is a stereotype?

(origin and what is stereotypes)

Stereotypes are characteristics imposed upon groups of people because of their race,
nationality, clothes and type of body. These characteristics tend to be oversimplifications of
the groups involved and, even if they seem "positive," stereotypes are harmful.

Even when framed as "positive," stereotypes of certain groups have negative effects. An
example of this is the myth of the "model minority" that has attached itself broadly to people
of Asian descent.

While it may seem like we should just stop paying attention to stereotypes, it often isn’t that
easy. With the globalization of media coverage over the last few decades, it seems that mass
media (which include movies, television and advertisements) are overflowing with stereotypes
and are a main source of stereotypes learned by individuals.

Although stereotyping has not been created by the media, modern media have a huge
influence on generation and maintenance of stereotypes. And that produce false beliefs about
our abilities easily turn into a voice of self-doubt in our heads that can be hard to ignore.

Scientists have started to discover that this can have damaging effects on our actual
performance and this phenomenon exists in the broader society as well as within many
organizations across the globe.

Researchers have identified a number of interrelated mechanisms responsible for this problem
with the key being deficits in working memory capacity – the ability to concentrate on the task
at hand and ignore distraction. Working memory under stereotype threat conditions is
affected by physiological stress, performance monitoring and suppression processes (of
anxiety and the stereotype).

There is hope, however. Emerging studies on how to reduce stereotype threat identify a range
of methods the most obvious being changing the stereotype. Ultimately, this is the way to
eliminate the problem once and for all. Another method is to buffer the threat through shifting
self-perceptions to positive group identity or self-affirmation.