Is Sterotyping Inevitable?

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Is Stereotyping Inevitable? Yes Issue Social psychologists have long been interested in stereotypes and prejudice, concepts that are typically viewed as being very much interrelated according to Patricia Devine. According to the text, many classic and contemporary theorists have suggested that prejudice is an inevitable consequence of ordinary categorization processes. This approach suggests that stereotypes are automatically applied to members of the stereotyped group. According to Ehrlich; ethnic attitudes and stereotypes are part of the social heritage of a society and no one can escape learning the prevailing attitudes and stereotypes assigned to the major ethnic groups. According to Devine, its argued that stereotypes and personal beliefs are conceptually distinct cognitive structure Each structure represents part of one’s entire knowledge base of a particular group. The dissociation of automatic and controlled processes may provide some theoretical leverage for understanding the role of stereotypes and personal beliefs in responses to members of racial or ethnic groups. According to Devine there is a strong evidence that stereotypes are well established in children’s memories before children develop the cognitive ability and flexibility to question or critically evaluate the stereotype’s validity or acceptability. As a result of this personal beliefs are necessarily newer cognitive structures. According to the text, the dissociation of automatic and controlled processes may provide some theoretical leverage for understanding the role of stereotypes and personal beliefs in responses to members of racial or ethnic groups. Devine argues that prejudice need not be the consequences of ordinary thought processes. She also concludes that although stereotyping still exist and can influence the responses of both high and low prejudice subjects, particularly when

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