Representation- How we stereotype.

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tereotypes

I've spent quite a long time dealing with society and how it effects the process of representation, it's worth now looking in more detail at what is going on in the other parts of the process- the individuals and the media and their relationship with what is being represented. This brings us on to the question of stereotypes- another word which is maybe worth a dictionary definition:

 

A standardised, usually oversimplified, mental picture or attitude that is held in common by members of a group.

A stereotype is a simplification that we use to make sense of a real person or group which is much more complicated. In reality there are many different kinds of Germans who are all individuals, but it is much easier to fool ourselves into believing that all Germans cheat with beach towels and eat strange sausages. The example that I have just given may seem harmless, but in fact it is arguable that it is racist. Stereotypes are potentially highly dangerous but stereotyping itself is impossible to avoid- it is a natural function of the human mind- something that we all do in order to survive mentally in the confusing world around us. The following theory explains how it works.

 

Representation- How we stereotype:

Implicit Personality Theory

 

Finish the phrases below:

1. John is energetic, eager and (intelligent/stupid) 

2. Julie is bright, lively and (thin/fat)

3. Joe is handsome, tall and (flabby/muscular)

4. Jane is attractive, intelligent and (likeable/unpleasant)

5. Susan is cheerful, positive and (attractive/unattractive)

If you compare your answers with those of others, the chances are that they will be exactly the same. There is no logical truth based reason for this- it is simply part of the way that we stereotype. The fact that we naturally see the world in this kind of shorthand way with connections between different character traits, allows the media to create simplistic representations which we find believable. Implicit personality theory explains this process.

As humans we use our own unique storehouse of knowledge about people when we judge them. 

Our past experience is more important than the true features of the actual personality that we are judging.- traits exist more in the eye of the beholder than in reality.

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We have each a system of rules that tells us which characteristics go with other characteristics.

We categorise people into types (e.g. workaholic, feminist etc.) to simplify the task of person perception

Once we have in our minds a set of linked traits which seem to us to go together, they form a pattern of connections that can be called a prototype. In other words the mix of traits that we may consider "typical" of feminists are a prototype of what a feminist is like to us.

If we encounter someone in reality or in the media who seems to ...

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