Stereotypes: Formation

• what is a stereotype

  comprised set of characteristics, traits, behaviours and attitudes attributed to social and cultural groups based on broad, often biased information about the group
• why do we have stereotypes

  our world is complex, thus to avoid information overload, we use stereotypes to understand the world and those living in it
• what is a negative effect of stereotypes

  stereotyping can lead to associations between groups and characteristics that are often negative and may give rise to prejudice and discrimination
• what is the main theory behind how stereotypes form

  Illusory Correlation
• what is illusory correlation

  cognitive bias which occurs when people assume that there is a relationship between two variables when in fact this relationship does not exist or is based on stereotypical assumptions which lack tangible evidence
• What is a schema?

  a cognitive framework or concept that helps organise and interpret information thus influencing stereotypes
• what is system 1


  Our intuitive decision-making system, which is typically fast, automatic, effortless, implicit, and emotional.
• what is system 2


  Our more deliberative decision-making system, which is slower, conscious, effortful, explicit, and logical.
• what is expectancy-based illusory correlation


  occurs when we mistakenly see relationships due to our pre-existing expectations surrounding them
• what is distinctiveness-based illusory correlation

  happen when a relationship is believed to exist between two variables due to focusing too much on information that stands out.