Why do we stereotype?

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Above us only sky
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Why do we stereotype?

Post by Above us only sky »

There are lots of stereotypes in this world, here I have an example:

In China, there is a thing called “white monkey jobs”. Here is a very interesting video about it.
Do you know any other funny stereotypes?

Why do we humans love stereotypes? Is it because there is a practical usefulness of those stereotypes for the very people who believe in them so people continue to have them?
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-1-
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Re: Why do we stereotype?

Post by -1- »

Stereotypes are better than monoaural types. The sound reproduction is more lifelike. Better sound. High fidelity sound is easierly achieved with stereotypes.
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Above us only sky
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Re: Why do we stereotype?

Post by Above us only sky »

-1- wrote:Stereotypes are better than monoaural types. The sound reproduction is more lifelike. Better sound. High fidelity sound is easierly achieved with stereotypes.
Well, if you want to keeping talking about Stereophonic sound, fine. I'm not an engineer. :roll:

-- Updated June 21st, 2017, 8:57 pm to add the following --

http://www.en.wikiaudio.org/Stereophonic_sound

here is a link about Stereophonic_sound

-- Updated June 21st, 2017, 10:10 pm to add the following --

BTW, The word 'white monkey jobs' is not a Chinese word, this word is created and used only among western expats in China to mock the issue of a so-called 'white priviledge' in China.
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SamuelVIII
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Re: Why do we stereotype?

Post by SamuelVIII »

We stereotype mostly to belong. It's not the user of the term that creates the stereotype, but more the follower. Usually it's a film or a game that sets the tone, people see it and say, 'oh, that's cool', and away they go. I was at school with a guy who became a punk, with the Pistols, teddy-boy when he saw Grease, and then a mod with Quadraphenia. I suppose it helps less secure people feel like they belong.
Eduk
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Re: Why do we stereotype?

Post by Eduk »

Great video AUOS.

I would argue we love stereotypes because it means we don't have to think. Why we love not to think?, I am not so sure. All the white monkey jobs were to add an authority in order to sell a product.

I read Cialdini's book 'influence science and practice' years ago and it's extremely accurate in my opinion, it is very rare to see an advert on TV which doesn't hit on one or more of the principles outlined. It's very rare to see a viral post which doesn't hit on one or more of the principles. And it's very rare when observing people making bizarre choices that they don't hit upon one or more of these principles. I just did a quick google and found this
Which I haven't seen all the way through yet.
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Above us only sky
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Re: Why do we stereotype?

Post by Above us only sky »

Eduk wrote:Great video AUOS.

.
Thanks for the video, lots of information.

However I doubt one can use the techniques shown in the video in a 100% ethical way.

For example, an assistant in a real estate agency will make inflated introduction for other colleague.
Eduk
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Re: Why do we stereotype?

Post by Eduk »

I meant it as a reason why people do stereotype not a reason as to why they should. They shouldn't.
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Re: Why do we stereotype?

Post by Fan of Science »

People are basically an irrational lot.
Steve3007
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Re: Why do we stereotype?

Post by Steve3007 »

Is it because there is a practical usefulness of those stereotypes for the very people who believe in them so people continue to have them?
Yes. It's the same kind of practical utility that we get from any other kind of generalisation. It's an example of the way in which we try to make sense of a complex world. We place things, including people, into broad categories.

Americans are all loud, brash and jingoistic. Australians all drink lager, wear hats with corks hanging off the brim and say "fair dinkum mate". The English are snooty, drink tea, wear bowler hats, colonise places and steal their marbles. Scots are mean. Irish are stupid. Welsh are sheep shaggers. French are cheese-eating surrender monkeys. Germans are efficient. The Swiss make cuckoo clocks. Turks like saunas. Greeks bearing gifts should be avoided. New Zealanders are sheep shaggers. Italians are lotharios. Russians are drunks...

And so on.

There, that's much easier than having to get to know 7 billion+ people individually.
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LuckyR
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Re: Why do we stereotype?

Post by LuckyR »

There is nothing wrong with the idea of stereotypes. The problem is the misuse of stereotypes.

For example, it is a stereotype that in a certain neighborhood a teenage boy in a hoodie might be a gang banger. But it is completely reasonable for a woman traveling at night alone in that neighborhood to make the stereotypical assumption and avoid the boy. OTOH, if that same woman is giving out merit scholarships in her office, it is a misuse of that same stereotype to deny an otherwise deserved scholarship based on it.
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Togo1
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Re: Why do we stereotype?

Post by Togo1 »

They're the result of short cuts in modelling the world. On the one hand, they're really efficient and useful from a processing point of view, on the other they do lead to some miscategorisations.

It is wrong to judge by appearances. Despite his expression, which was that of a piglet having a bright idea, and his mode of speech, which might put you in mind of a small, breathless, neurotic but ridiculously expensive dog, Mr Horsefry might well have been a kind, generous and pious man. In the same way, the man climbing out of your window in a stripy jumper, a mask and a great hurry might merely be lost on the way to a fancy-dress party, and the man in the wig and robes at the focus of the courtroom might only be a transvestite who wandered in out of the rain. Snap judgements can be so unfair.
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