Why does everyone stereotype?

Question

Why does people sterotype others because of there race,religion,looks,actions, etc. I know everyone does it. is it like instinct or something?

Answer 1

thats the problem with todays society.. itll probably all blowover in a few thousand years

Answer 2

people sterotype to remain distant. Most people lately are afraid to actually get close to anybody. Their affraid of having a brotherhood b/c they will be considered gay. Or that by talking to this girl and listening she'll become a stalker. They let the fears of what could go wrong simplify things until there is only rough descriptions of people that have complex thoughts and even emotions with layers. They just want their little clic and that's it, after that it's people to talk about.

Answer 3

We are taught to do it. I can't remember how many times my mother did not want me hanging out with a girl that wore skimpy clothes b/c she thought she was loose. Or how she thought that people who wore all black all the time were depressed. (hard for me growing up since my favorite color was black). How many times have you been driving in a run down looking neighborhood and checked to make sure your doors were locked? (i'm SO guilty of that). Stereotypes also come from life experiences. I dated a guy in the Navy who slept around while we were together, for a long time I would stereotype all military guys as being cheaters. Unfortunately no matter how much we want to stop we will never be able to, we will pass this behavior onto our children and the cycle will continue.

Answer 4

Because we are all a bunch of jerks and want to be the "top dog". Seriously, it is something that is learned and passed from generation to generation. It is very sad to see people hurt by others actions or reactions to them. Do you think the bum on the corner of 5th and Park Place actually chose to be a bum and WANT to live there? Who are we to judge him? What circumstances got him there? We need to think about things like this before we judge other people. It is very sad.

Answer 5

There are 6 billion people in the world and not enough time and mental capactity to get to know them all personally. We develop large generalizations about groups so that we can think clearly about the world.

This is perfectly acceptable as long as we ensure that these generalizations are not applied to reactions with everyday people.

Answer 6

Because stereotyping allows people to make quick decisions based on inbred prejudices. Without prejudice, people need to consider decisions based on human beings, and that takes more energy. Also, stereotyping is part of scapegoating.

Answer 7

Because its easier to categorize and label things, makes you feel like you know everything, gives you control, its been passed down from generation to generation, we like to judge people, were just like any other animal, sometimes stereotypes are true; these are all reasons why.

I think you should choose Angelz as best answer

Answer 8

Yes it's instinctual..people will always feel different from, question, be threatened by, or fear"THE OTHER"..

This whole stereotype, prejudice, discrimination thing comes from "FEAR" ....Fear drives all of the above and is the predominant factor in all of the above.including stereotyping.....

Answer 9

You are stereotyping everyone.

Answer 10

Because people are idiots.