STEREOTYPES ARE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL LUBRICANT OF INTERGROUP BEHAVIOUR. DISCUSS.
To adequately investigate the question as to whether stereotypes are the psychological lubricant on intergroup behaviour, several areas need to be considered. In the context of this essay the concept of stereotypes needs to be defined. Although Lippmann (1922) is credited with first using the term 'stereotype' in this context it is perhaps Brown (1995) who offers the most applicable definition when he wrote that "to stereotype someone is to attribute to that person some characteristics which are seen to be shared by all or most of his or her fellow group members." (p.83). With this definition in mind this essay will, firstly, in an attempt to address the question make a brief review of some of the research that has been conducted on the formation of stereotypes. Secondly, this essay will move onto examine the function of these stereotypes in the individual, both from the perspective of intergroup conflict and also in intergroup co-operation. Thirdly this essay will also examine the research that has been carried out into the persistence of stereotypes. Because of the vast amount of research that has been conducted in this area, this essay will, as far as possible, concentrate primarily on the more recent research conducted within
* Chapman, L. J. (1967) as cited in Brown, R. (1995) Prejudice: Its Social Psychology (3rd Ed.) Blackwell Publishers: Oxford. Having considered the formation of stereotypes this essay will now move on to directly address the function of stereotypes in intergroup conflict and co-operation. Brown (1995) noted that the primary use for stereotypes was their use in social judgements in combination with information specific to the individual. The majority of research in this area has looked at the use of stereotypes in intergroup conflict and this is what this essay will primarily consider, although an attempt will be made to examine their use in intergroup co-operation as well. Snyder and Miene (1994) conducted a study into the functions served by the largely negative stereotyping of the elderly amongst themselves as well as the younger generations. They theorised that the cognitive function of negative stereotypes towards the elderly (such as 'frail', 'weak' and 'feeble-minded') is to simplify the processing of cognitive information about the old person in question. The function of stereotypes in the psychodynamic orientation would state that the elderly are perceived as a threat towards the younger generations, and negative stereotypes are an attempt to deflect the fear at the elderly person specifically, rather than the ageing process to which they are part of. The sociocultural orientation of the functions of stereotypes towards the elderly would emphasise the differences between the various social groups that are separated by age. * Oakes, P. J. & Turner, J. C. (1980) as cited in Maass, A. & Schaller, M. (1991) Intergroup biases and the cognitive dynamics of stereotype formation. European Review of Social Psychology, 2, 190-206.
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Approximate Word count = 2634
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)
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