1. Stereotypes- are they outdating attitudes in modern society?
Libby Wood
Introduction
Stereotypes in psychology have been defined as a false classificatory concept to which as a rule a strong emotional feeling tone of likes or dislikes, approval or disapproval is attached.
Allport (1954) stated whether it be favorable or unfavorable a stereotype is an exaggerated belief asserted with a category.
Stereotypes develop in the same way attitudes and prejudices develop. Social learning and perception, group norms and reference groups play a big role in the development of a stereotype.
With the use of regression models it was found that homophobia was associated with the acceptance of negative but not positive stereotypes about gays and lesbians.
Individual characteristics had few effects on stereotype acceptance.
As the study was correlational definite claims cannot be made about causality, there is also potential for social desirability effects.
The results from this study show an increasing tolerance of homosexuality in modern society, this shows that it is possible individuals stereotypes are changing with there attitudes.
Brown and Groscup (2009)
This research was based on the relationship between homophobic attitudes and acceptance of stereotypes about gays and lesbians. Previous researchers have focused more on examining homophobia through individual differences.
140 participants were asked to rate how much they agreed with 10 stereotypes about gays, lesbians and same sex relationships. An individual characteristics questionnaire was carried out with participants as well as a measure of homophobia. It was expected to be found that there were small to moderate correlations between the variables and acceptance of stereotypes about gays and lesbians.
Brooms and Perry (2016)
Recent attention to high profile cases of unarmed black men being killed by law enforcement and the subsequent Black lives matter movement, created a need for research in attitudes and perceptions held by African- American men about their own realities.
The study included 25 black men who identified as African-American, the sample had an average age of 34.2 and all participants were college educated. Each participant took part in an qualitative interview that lasted minuets, was audio recorded and transcribed by the first researcher.
Participants responses were in no way restricted as the interview followed a semi-structured, open ended protocol. They wanted the men to feel at ease when discussing their perceptions, experiences and reflections so the location of the interview was decided by the participant.
Recent protests against the police killings of unarmed black men.
The findings of the study show that when discussing there own personal experiences they had a lot to offer, one participant said that he was profiled and stereotyped so often that he could just “go down the list” and that a lot of the behaviour shown towards them such as being followed in stores is “just a normality” in todays society. Many of the participants described the perceptions of black men as a constant battle in which they struggled for opportunities to define themselves.
In response to the recent killings of black people by law enforcement many of the participants put it down to either their racialized and gendered identities or the lack of value for black lives. “because they were Black/Black men” narratives as the predominant theme.
The expressed “no surprise” in hearing about the death of unarmed black men shows that stereotypes still have a strong presence in modern society and a strong influence.
Studies that research stereotypes have the potential to being to understand the basis on which a stereotype is built and possibly how to combat them rather than the impossible task of removing them from society all together.
Conclusion
The studies show the presence of stereotypes in modern society are still effecting many peoples attitudes on certain political issues. They show the willingness people have to challenge the considered outdated opinions and views on certain issues such as homosexuality.
On going research to address concerns should examine the relationship between individuals’ personality traits and their acceptance of stereotypes.
Stereotypes have the opportunity to be very damaging to society and it is clear that they will always have some effect on society, the fact that they have such a big impact on something such as the law which should be approached with an unbiased mind shows that they the potential to destroy values that have developed over decades and many people have fought to change.
Understanding the discrimination of stereotyping will need a more detailed look into the causes of an individuals willingness to accept them. If stereotypes are hindering progress in modern attitudes on political and social issues new ways must be found to hinder their effect on society.
References
Brooms, D , Perry, A. (2016). “It’s Simply Because We’re Black Men. journal of mens studies . 24 (2), p
Brown, M , Groscup, J. (2009). Homophobia and Acceptance of Stereotypes About Gays and Lesbians. Individual Differences research. 7 (3), p
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