Why do people stereo type?

Question

All these dumb stero types, and i think its annoying.

Mostly everyone I know hates them, so why do people do it?

Another thing, why do people like to be stero typed.

I KNOW people that do.

I dont even bother saying DONT LABEL ME,

because I know someone probably already did.

really, i want to know your guy's thinking about the subject .

If you do stero,I hope you realize its wrong.

comments please=)

btw, thanks for commenting on all my other questions=)

And don't put mean comments about me, this isnt about me.

Answer 1

i don't think stereotyping people is wrong. everyone does it subconciously from initial contact with a person. and as bad as you want to not stereotype, you do it. but it's not your fault or mine. it's really society to blame. so unless you plan to change society as a whole, it will continue forever

Answer 2

i guess ppl label others because of their influence upon society and/or the atmosphere which they were raised upon. Some ppl like to be stereotyped because of their own insecurities....

Answer 3

Hi I know what you are asking but I think its human nature actually.  Everyone does it.

Stereotyping is one of those words that have developed into a "wrong" sounding word but it isn't--it is just a word.

The only thing that is wrong about it is when it is used in a racist or bigot type way. Such as all X people are THIS 1 way.

However, its hard for most people to not categorize things--when you have a large group of any particular object, let's go with laundry for instance.

All the darks go in one pile (socks, blouses, pants, underwear) it isn't the same type of clothing but they are all dark pieces of clothes.

So its just about categorizing--instead of saying each separate piece--its easier to just state "dark laundry"; "whites"; light laundry, etc.

Our minds only work a certain way & even though there used to be this huge move out to say "don't stereotype" its not really possibly as that is how it makes it easy to talk about certain groups.

To make this harder, some groups of humans chose to be caterogized such as select ethnic groups; religios sects, etc.

I don't mean to open a can of worms but we can't have it "both ways". We either catoragize or we don't.

Basically you are right--to stereotype for the purpose of negativity IS wrong but its not the only reason that people do it & to understand that being caterogized isn't being negative is a great way to undersand basic human condition.

Answer 4

People assume what they don't know or understand. But stereotyping is not exactly wrong, because you can't allow your self to be too open all the time. If so you might take in something bad that could have block out in the beginning. It's wrong when you excessively do it to the point where you are not giving enough people their chance.

Answer 5

Stereotyping is a function of the ego. It is a process that takes place in order to compare and judge others in relation to ones self. The ego is always looking to label others as either inferior or superior. I could go on but it's pretty boring stuff.

Bottom line is, it is never accurate to stereotype. People are not who our perception thinks they are. Stereotyping is very one dimensional and humans are much more complex in spirit.

Answer 6

Stereotyping is a consequence of "experience", either our own or someone elses'. If we have the experience, for example, of being either helped or harmed by someone from a group, we generalize about all people from that group.

And then lets not forget that certain people from certain groups can perpetuate a stereotype by behaving in ways that support it.

Answer 7

Because it's easier to sum up people according to how they look, talk, dress or smell than to get to know them on a more profound level.

Remember also that stereotypes are generally built on a "one size fits all" mentality.  By this, I mean that we reduce the identity of a person to certain characteristics, depending on what is salient to us about them.  

For example, we may say that all blacks are lazy, all Italians are sleazy, all Brits are snobs, all Muslims are terrorists, or all doctors are empathetic, but to say that all members of a certain group share a particular characteristic is idiotic, as it fails to take into account the vast differences that exist between people, even in certain professions like law, medicine, marketing or psychology.

Stereotyping isn't "wrong" in a moral sense; it's just not a particularly helpful thing to do, by evaluating a person because of their (voluntary or involuntary) membership to a certain group.  Of course, for example, saying that all members of the KKK are racists is a given, but they don't give others much choice but to focus on their most negative aspects.

Answer 8

The brain subconsciously stereotypes people the instant you meet them, its inevitable.

Answer 9

Stereotypes are little shortcuts that the brain makes for all people of a certain group. They can be good stereotypes (like all British people are intelligent) or bad stereotypes (all black people are stupid). Regardless of what they are, they are wrong. Positive or negative, stereotypes don't work.

We do it because it's very easy. It takes a lot of guesswork out of wondering "Is this black gentleman going to rob me?" If we've stereotyped black people as being criminals, it makes that decision so much easier. It's a wrong decision, mind you, but it's easy.

Answer 10

Remember that all of us had "Archie Bunker" for a dad, grand-dad, or great grand-dad.  "He" poisoned his children, they their's and so forth.

There are always going to be friends or school mates who were raised that way....even if many of us were not. Therefore, it sometimes comes from peers, one's neighborhood, etc.

I agree that stereotyping is BAD...For instance when people in R&S talk about Christians, Atheists or others...as if everbody is the same.  People are all different, and enough people don't take the time to realize that.

Answer 11

There appears to be an upper limit of the number of people a person can "know" and track social interactions with individually.  In order to deal with people more than this number, humans create stereotypes.

Additionally, stereotypes are generally defined by recognizable traits and are associated with behavioral expectations correlated with those sets of traits.  This--in a form--is a description of social norms and the basis of establishing a usual, "fair" way of treating groups of people.

This second form is often associated with group identity and self-identification with a group and helps to build interactive bonds, especially those tied to altruism and reciprocity without the person or persons getting cheated and by establishing a shared set of norms and moral values.

So, your statement that "If you do stero,I hope you realize its wrong." is questionable because it's what makes small groups work together and larger groups interact with lower levels of conflict.