Stereotypes As Explanations : The Formation of Meaningful Beliefs About Social Groups

Stereotyping is one of the biggest single issues in social psychology, but relatively little is known about how and why stereotypes form. Stereotypes as Explanations is the first book to explore the process of stereotype formation, the way that people develop impressions and views of social groups. Conventional approaches to stereotyping assume that stereotypes are based on erroneous and distorted processes, but the authors of this book take a very different view, namely that stereotypes form in order to explain aspects of social groups and in particular to explain relationships between groups. In developing this view, the authors explore classic and contemporary approaches to stereotype formation and advance new ideas about such topics as the importance of category formation, essentialism, illusory correlation, interdependence, social reality and stereotype consensus. They conclude that stereotypes are indeed explanations, but they are nevertheless highly selective, variable and frequently contested explanations. Social, Cultural, And Cognitive Factors In Stereotype Formation / Craig Mcgarty, Vincent Y. Yzerbyt And Russell Spears -- Stereotype Formation As Category Formation / Craig Mcgarty -- Subjective Essentialism And The Emergence Of Stereotypes / Vincent Y. Yzerbyt And Steve Rocher -- The Role Of Theories In The Formation Of Stereotype Content / Patricia M. Brown And John C. Turner -- Illusory Correlation And Stereotype Formation: Making Sense Of Group Differences And Cognitive Biases / Marit︠te Bernsden, Russell Spears, Joop Van Der Pligt And Craig Mcgarty -- Dependence And The Formation Of Stereotyped Beliefs About Groups: From Interpersonal To Intergroup Perception / Olivier Corneille And Vincent Y. Yzerbyt -- Four Degrees Of Stereotype Formation: Differentiation By Any Means Necessary / Russell Spears -- From Personal Pictures In The Head To Collective Tools In The World: How Shared Stereotypes Allow Groups To Represent And Change Social Reality / S. Alexander Haslam [and Others] -- Conclusion: Stereotypes Are Selective, Variable And Contested Explanations / Craig Mcgarty, Russell Spears And Vincent Y. Yzerbyt. [edited By] Craig Mcgarty, Vincent Y. Yzerbyt, And Russell Spears. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 200-224) And Indexes. Stereotyping is one of the most important issues in social psychology, but relatively little is known about how and why stereotypes form. This book explores the process of stereotype formation; the way people develop impressions and view social groups. Conventional approaches to stereotyping assume that stereotypes are based on erroneous and distorted processes, but the authors of this unique study have a very different view. They propose that stereotypes form to explain aspects of social groups and; in particular; to explain relationships between groups. Imagine for a moment a busy city intersection with a police officer controlling traffic.