Why Do We Create Stereotypes?

Question

Why as teenagers do we create the stereotypes that destroy peoples lives? yet millions of kids live by them every single day.

Answer 1

Because we create shortcuts for figuring out people. Instead of finding out what a person is really like. You suppose that that person will behave in certain way because they belong to a certain group. Its easy thats why alot of people use it. Also it can be true sometimes.

Answer 2

Stereotyping is an adaptive behavior. We do it because it's easier/more efficient to have an attitude toward a category rather than considering every individual within that category. If you suddenly found yourself on an African plain 10,000 years ago and you saw your companion attacked and devoured by a lion, it would be adaptive for you to create an attitude toward a category of large, furry things with claws and fangs, and this category wouldn't just include lions, but also cheetahs, leopards...anything else the fit that general description.

Stereotyping certainly isn't limited to teenagers. We start doing it as infants and continue throughout life. We develop our own stereotypes and learn stereotypes from others. We may have stereotypes about women (emotional, can't parallel park), men (commitment-phobic, won't ask for directions), Asians (good at math, bad drivers), etc.

For the most part, our ability to stereotype is a good thing. The bad part comes when we use these stereotypes to make decisions about individuals. If we use our stereotypical belief about women (say, that they're emotional) cloud our judgment about hiring someone for a job where overly emotional responses could be a negative (say, a surgeon), then we've made an error. There are some decisions that can/should be made on the basis of a stereotype (if it has claws and paws...run!), but other decisions (who to choose for a friend, who to hire for a job) should only be made on the basis of the individual.

Answer 3

Not a teenager but I was back in the 80s. Basically humans fear what they do not know, so to be able to make themselves more comfortable they like to immediately identify and categorize strangers. Unfortunately, some categories are negative and mean. Its also the lazy person's way to avoid really getting to know someone. For example, saying that all black people are criminals gives you an easy way out of taking the time to get to know and understand them right? Why would you associate with a criminal? Its an easy way to keep your distance because of your fear.

All teenagers can change the Bull that us (your parents) and our parents created by smashing stereotypes to bits and living making your own opinions and not letting fear of the unknown keep you from meeting and learning about new things and new people.

Answer 4

The human brain learns by classifying things by their differences. Stereotypes are a natural result of being human.

Do you fear spiders? You figured out a long time ago that spiders might be dangerous and classified them as such for self protection.

Stereotypes don't destroy lives, they save lives.

Answer 5

People tend to follow the path of least resistance when it comes to thinking. If someone tells us something about a group of people, it's easier to accept it than to question it, especially if it is someone we trust. I think that the stereotypes a lot of people have a formed way before the teenage years, though.

Answer 6

So that we can familiarize ourselves with people better....

for example: one football player might categorize in a stereotype that cross country runners are wimps.... in cases this might be true, and you might recognize this... if the football player recognizes this, he will become familiar to it, and will not be confuse later, because he has the understanding that a cross country runner is a wimp.... and until he is proven wrong... he will be satisfied in knowing that these runners are wimps, and can go on in his every day life knowing he doesn't have to fear this little runner

Answer 7

so that certain groups who are deemed cool, usually because of being sexually attractive or talented, can use them to maintain their status and make sure nobody they disaprove of succeeds. and their stereotypes are spread because the majority of teenagers out there are shallow and worship those 'cool' kids. just like in the adult world, the strong are always looking to take advantage of the weak for their own benefit.

Answer 8

We create them because our minds work by creating associations. For example your mind associates cold and wet with uncomfortable. It works the same on a conscious level with our mind building on our experiences to make associations that create constants, thereby simplifying our world.

Answer 9

stereo typing begins as a small child and carries on into adolescence and adulthood. It is mostly I would say brought on by our surrounding environment....like parents, relatives and such. We are so impressionable when we are born..so therefore we are certainly not born with stereo typing in our genes it is certainly our gender and how others perceive others. Oh well that is my take on it. We are all guilty of it so I would say it is never going to go away!

Answer 10

I think our goverment plays a big part - along with our upbringing and influences in our daily lives. I say our government plays a big part because they treat some types of people in one way and another in another way and it creates hostility and sterotyping.