Reexamining stereotype content: The importance of explanatory frameworks for stereotype structure, maintenance, and change.
Gist, Pamela Lee
1995
Abstract
Wittenbrink, Gist, & Hilton (1994) recently proposed an expanded conceptualization of stereotyping, treating stereotypes as naive theories, or explanatory frameworks, about social groups. This perspective posits that in addition to cataloging and filtering information, stereotypes provide explanations and assumptions about underlying causal relations. These causal relations allow social perceivers to draw inferences, and provide a framework through which perceivers understand their social environment. One of the implications of this approach is the importance of stereotype content. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the relevance of content for stereotype structure, maintenance, and change. Study 1 addressed stereotype structure, illustrating the limited utility of a prototype model of stereotypes. The prototype model assumes that stereotype attributes or dimensions (1) are independent of one another, and (2) cumulatively determine "typicality," such that the more attributes a group member has in common with the group, the more typical, or representative, of the group the individual is perceived to be. Study 1 challenged both of these assumptions by demonstrating that the typicality ratings of social targets reflect the meaningfulness of dimension combinations rather than just the additive typicality of each dimension. Stereotype attributes that were expected to occur together weighed more heavily in determining perceived typicality than stereotype attributes that were not expected to be related to one another. Studies 2 and 3 addressed stereotype maintenance with the issue of subtyping, the creation of a subcategory to account for exceptions to the stereotype. These studies introduced a new, 3-pronged measure of subtyping, and demonstrated the importance of stereotype content in determining when subtyping will occur. Subtyping occurred more often when the exceptional group members had something in common that could explain their inconsistency with the stereotype, than when the exceptional members shared only their inconsistency with the stereotype. The purpose of the Study 4 was to explore the possible role of stereotype content in determining both meaning and consistency of stereotype relevant information, thereby influencing the likelihood of stereotype change. The potentially context-dependent nature of stereotype-consistency was illustrated, as the explanations provided for objectively stereotype-inconsistent information appeared to affect the perceived variability of the target group. When information about a group member that was apparently inconsistent with the stereotype was accompanied by an explanation that was consistent with the stereotype, the inconsistency was less powerful in changing the stereotype than when the accompanying explanation was inconsistent with the stereotype.Other Identifiers
(UMI)AAI9527633
Subjects
Psychology, Social
Types
Thesis
Metadata
Show full item recordCollections
Remediation of Harmful Language
The University of Michigan Library aims to describe library materials in a way that respects the people and communities who create, use, and are represented in our collections. Report harmful or offensive language in catalog records, finding aids, or elsewhere in our collections anonymously through our metadata feedback form. More information at Remediation of Harmful Language.
Accessibility
If you are unable to use this file in its current format, please select the Contact Us link and we can modify it to make it more accessible to you.