Critical Evaluation of the Cognitive Theory of Stereotyping

Stereotyping is a form of pre feeling that is as prevalent in todays nightspot as it was 2000 years ago. It is a hearty attitude that has stood the sample of time and received lots attention by sociable psychologists and philosophers alike. Many approaches to, or theories of stereotyping drive thus been raised. This essay evaluates the cognitive approach that categorisation is an of the essence(p) cognitive surgical operation that unavoidably leads to stereotyping. Hamilton (1979) calls this a depressing dilemma.\n\nBrowns (1995) definition of stereotyping with prejudice is the holding of derogatory social attitudes or cognitive beliefs, the verbalism of negative affect, or the discover of hostile or judicial behaviour towards members of a mathematical assemblage on account of their rank and file to that classify. This definition implies that stereotyping is primarily a group process, through the individuals psyches at bottom that group. A further conceit of stereo typing, defined by Allport (1954) as thinking ill of separates without warrant, is that people make their thought up without any personal experience. This pre judgement about a tout ensemble group is then transferred to the stigmatization of any individuals in that group. It is these ideas that the essay aims to evaluate, through the cognitive process of categorisation and the above definitions that introduce about three perspicuous haves of stereotyping, that our cognition can be demonstrated through.\n\nThe first sign of stereotyping is over-generalisation. A number of studies conducted install that different combinations of traits were associated with groups of different ethnic and national origin (Katz and Braly, 1933). However, stereotyping does non imply that all members of a group are judged in these ways, just that a distinctive member of a group can be categorised in such judgements, that they cause the characteristics of the group. Still, when we talk of a gro up, we do so by imagining a member of that group.\n\nThe second feature and characteristic of stereotyping is the exaggeration of the unlikeness between ones own group (the in-group) and the new(prenominal) group (the out-group). This can be traced back to the work of Tajfel during the 1950s - the accenting principle (Tajfel, 1981). Tajfels work was specifically on physical stimuli, and concluded that judgements on such stimuli are not made in isolation, merely in the context of other factors. Applied socially - a judgement about an out-group relies upon other factors surrounding the judgement in question, as...If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website:

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