So why are there stigmas about Red Heads?

Question

I'm a girl and think most redheaded men are hot and pretty nice. Why are there negative connotations? I know some red heads who say they have the red head temper or whatever - could this just be a learned trait from being teased or is there something to it? Though they might be joking when they say it is something that is always shown on TV.

Answer 1

People resort to stereotypes when they don't want to think for themselves.  The same goes for the stereotyped blond being daft and so on.

But there is more to it than stereotypes.  

In the early age of modern medicine (Greco-Roman medicine) redheads was labeled as "sanguine" that's one out of four basic substances, called four humours, that heeds to be in balance for a person to be healthy. If you had too much blood you were sanguine. Your personality was then courageous, hopeful, amorous. A person of sanguine temperament is quickly and strongly excited by the slightest impression, and tends to react immediately, but the impression does not last; it soon fades away.

In Indian medicine Ayurveda the red heads are thought to be "pitta" one out of three elements. Pitta is the thermal, explosive force behind the ability to transform everything. Some pitta characteristics are intelligent, jealous, ambitious and sexually passionate.

I think that part of how people stereotype redheads today is because of those old superstitions.