Stereotype Accuracy: Toward Appreciating Group Differences (Apa Science Volumes)

Looks at stereotyping empirically and challenges the conventional thinking that stereotypes are always inaccurate and exaggerated. Essays on theoretical, conceptual, methodological, and empirical issues examine the cognitive and attitudinal processes that underlie stereotyping, and present research on stereotype accuracy. Topics include stereotype accuracy in multicultural business, and teacher expectations based on students' gender, social class, and ethnicity. Includes a section of opposing views. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or. The preponderance of scholarly theory and research on stereotypes assumes that they are bad and inaccurate, but understanding stereotype accuracy and inaccuracy is more interesting and complicated than simpleminded accusations of racism or sexism would seem to imply. The selections in this collection explore issues of the accuracy of stereotypes and the impact of stereotyping on the judgments of individual members of stereotyped groups in the following chapters: (1) "Why Study Stereotype Accuracy and Inaccuracy?" (Lee. J. Jussim, Clark R. McCauley, and Yueh-Ting Lee); (2) "Accuracy: A Neglected Component of Stereotype Research" (Victor Ottati and Yueh-Ting Lee); (3) "Accuracy of Stereotypes: What Research on Physical Attractiveness Can Teach Us" (Richard D. Ashmore and Laura C. Long); (4) "The Shifting Standards Model: Implications of Stereotype Accuracy for Social Judgment" (Monica Biernat); (5) "An Ecological View of Stereotype Accuracy" (Reuben M. Baron); (6) "Stereotypes, Base Rates, and the Fundamental Attribution Mistake: A Content-Based Approach to Judgmental Accuracy" (David C. Funder); (7) "Stereotype Accuracy in Multicultural Business" (Yueh-Ting Lee and Guillermo Duenas); (8) "Motivations and the Perceiver's Group Membership: Consequences for Stereotype Accuracy" (Carey S. Ryan); (9) "Are Stereotypes Exaggerated? A Sampling of Racial, Gender, Academic, Occupational, and Political Stereotypes" (Clark R. McCauley); (10) "Are Teacher Expectations Biased by Students' Gender, Social Class, or Ethnicity" (Lee J. Jussim and Jacquelynne Eccles); (11) "Content and Application Inaccuracy in Social Stereotyping" (Charles Stangor); and (12) "Stereotype Accuracy: Toward Appreciating Group Differences" (Clark R. McCauley, Lee J. Jussim, and Yueh-Ting Lee). (Contains 1 exhibit, 5 figures, and 15 tables.) (SLD) What do people from South America usually assume about doing business with North Americans, and vice versa? How do these stereotypes influence their perceptions of one another? Are teacher expectations biased by students' gender, social class, or ethnicity? Are attractive people assumed to be more or less intelligent than others? Understanding the nature of stereotyping is crucial in answering questions like these and in advancing social psychology and its applications, such as improving intergroup relations. This book challenges conventional thinking that stereotypes are always inaccurate, exaggerated, and generally destructive by looking at stereotyping empirically. The chapters provide insights into how stereotyping may help us manage information without necessarily being destructive. They also unearth the complex cognitive and attitudinal processes that underlie stereotyping, so we may harness these processes to better understand group differences and to promote greater respect for those we see as different from ourselves. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2004 APA, all rights reserved) This provocative book challenges conventional thinking that stereotypes are always inaccurate, exaggerated, and generally destructive by daring to look at stereotyping empirically. The chapters provide insights into how stereotyping may help us manage information without necessarily being destructive. They also unearth the complex cognitive and attitudinal processes that underlie stereotyping, so we may harness these processes to better understand group differences and to promote greater respect for those we see as different from ourselves.