Stereotype

A stereotype is an over-generalized belief about a particular category of people. Stereotyping occurs when a person ascribes the collective characteristics associated with a particular group to every member of that group, discounting individual characteristics. Stereotypes can be negative or positive. Many stereotypes have a long history and were created as a result of specific economic, political, or social circumstances. Stereotypes are sometimes overgeneralized, inaccurate, and resistant to new information, but can sometimes be accurate. Possible prejudicial effects of stereotypes are: justification of ill-founded prejudices or ignorance; unwillingness to rethink one`s attitude and behavior; and preventing some people of stereotyped groups from entering or succeeding in activities or fields.