What are the factors that contribute to developing a stereotype?

Question

What are the factors that contribute to developing a stereotype?

Answer 1

Stereotypes come from personal experiences that just so happen to be shared by a large enough number of people that they become well known stereotypes. The 'dumb blonde' stereotype for example; there must of been someone who originally noticed from their own life experience that blondes tend to be more dopey, this thought must of then be shared with their friends and the idea picks up speed and spreads. Modern stereotypes such as Jews being good with money are helped to be spread even wider by TV, I have only come into contact with a limited number of Jewish people and I only know that stereotype exists because of American TV comedies.

There are of course some false stereotypes, these are likely to have been created for comedy, such as Germans constantly apologizing for the actions of their countries leader during WW2. I doubt there are many Germans who are actually like that, but the swastika and references to Nazism in the media is banned in Germany, so this stereotype was created and applied to an actual German person, rather than Germany as a country. Perhaps that is an old stereotype these days and not very well known but that is how false stereotypes are often made up.

Answer 2

A stereo type is grouping people together with a common factor (that may or may not be true). A stereo type can be racially based, religious, work related or even based on s*x.

Answer 3

courage less is main factor that leads to stereotype,secondly ones feeling that i am the best others are dumb,that is one is not open to others view as also,some one who can not visualise out side one circle,no guts to break open the border to fly high,as also ignorance -arrogant-EGO-ETC. ARE THE FACTORS makes human life stereo.........................

Answer 4

a common lifestyle/interest

a common appearance

a common behavior(s)

oh and people, you need those too.