Understanding Stereotypes

What is a stereotype according to the text?

• A social perception of an individual based on group membership or physical attributes.

• A type of prejudice that only results in negative outcomes.

• A legal classification used in governmental policies.

• A scientific method for categorizing biological traits.

According to Tajfel, how are stereotypes generally formed?

• Through direct personal experiences only.

• As a natural cognitive process of social categorization.

• By legal authorities to maintain social order.

• Through educational systems.

What is an "illusory correlation" as described in the text?

• A real and statistically significant correlation between two variables.

• A perceived but incorrect link between a group membership and specific behaviors.

• A scientifically proven cause-and-effect relationship.

• A correlation that only appears under experimental conditions.

What was the main finding of the Hamilton & Gifford (1976) study on stereotype formation?

• Participants accurately estimated the number of positive vs. negative traits in each group.

• Participants could not remember any of the traits mentioned.

• Participants overestimated the number of negative traits in the minority group.

• There was no difference in perception between the groups.

What does the term "confirmation bias" refer to in the context of social behavior?

• The tendency to seek out or remember information that supports pre-existing beliefs.

• The inclination to challenge and disprove one's own beliefs.

• The preference for information that contradicts popular opinion.

• The habit of ignoring any information related to personal beliefs.

What is "stereotype threat" and how does it affect behavior?

• It is the fear of being judged or treated stereotypically, which can inadvertently confirm the stereotype.

• It is the threat of enforcing stereotypes on others, leading to aggressive behaviors.

• It is the fear of learning about stereotypes, which leads to avoidance behaviors.

• It is the threat of breaking stereotypes, which often results in social isolation.

According to the study by Spencer et al. (1999), who underperformed in mathematics tests due to stereotype threat?

• Men who were good at mathematics

• Women who were good at mathematics

• Men who were not good at mathematics

• Women who were not good at mathematics

What is one potential consequence of stereotype threat as discussed in the text?

• Increased effort in tasks

• Reducing effort in order to psychologically protect oneself

• Improved performance under pressure

• Enhanced focus on task details

What was the primary focus of the study conducted by Martin & Halverson in 1983 regarding stereotyping and memory?

• The influence of racial prejudice on memory recall

• The impact of gender stereotyping on children's memory recall

• The effect of age differences on memory distortion

• The role of cultural background in memory accuracy

What is a key limitation of Hamilton & Gifford’s (1976) study?

• The test itself was highly artificial and may not predict what happens in the "real world."

• It cannot be replicated.

• The number of slides was not the same for both groups which means that the data is not comparable.

• It used nationalities for which the participants may have already had stereotypes.