Stereotypes and Bias Mediation & Conflict Resolution

Stereotypes  (Definition) A culturally shared mental representation of social groups that may act as explanations or expectancies for behavior  (How formed): combination of  Common environment: shared education, social upbrining, culture  Correspondence bias: directly linking a person’s behavior to their personality, discounting other possible contributing factors  Illusory Correlation: forming an (often incorrect) reasoning about why or how two events are connected

Cognitive Stereotypes  Stereotypes are complex, cognitive tools which functions in information processing  Stereotypes help people make sense of the world by simplifying and organzizing information  Explain social situations  Justify actions, behaviors  Help differentiate between groups  Similar to Social Identity Theory: concept that a person’s self- identification is partially formed based on how they relate to certain social groups

Negative Stereotype  Association between stereotypes and social injustice has rendered a bad connotation, and suggests that stereotypes should be avoided (Ex: bias, discrimination)  Ethnicity  Gender  Age  Religion  Bodily appearance  Negative Stereotypes: convey negative or false impression; ignore differences between individuals

Positive Stereotype  Positive Stereotypes have more upbeat connotations, but can still be false, and can still create feelings of embarrassment or anxiety  Ex: “Sober as a Judge”  Ex: “Blondes have more fun”  Ex: “TV anchors are authoritative and respectable”

Non-verbal stereotype  Stereotypes do not have to be spoken or written, they can be communicated with non-verbal language  Ex: moving in field when a girl is up to bat  Ex: locking your doors or moving to the other side of the street when a “suspicious” person is close

Beneficial vs. Detrimental Effects of Stereotypes  Stereotypes may be beneficial (cognitive) or detrimental (prejudice, bias). EX:  Male Friend #1: If she’s mad at you, buy her some flowers and chocolate. Women like that stuff.  Male Friend #2: That’s funny. But’s it’s a good idea.  What is beneficial about this situation?  What is detrimental about this situation?

In-class activity  Consider an interpersonal instance in the last few days or weeks in which someone has verbally or nonverbally used a stereotype in an interaction with you. (The instance must be a first-hand experience, and the stereotype must have had some effect on the conversation).

Debriefing

For next class:  Topic: Stereotypes and gender, race  Presentation: Laverne Cox, GSU Distinguished Speaker Series, 3:30PM at the GSU Student Center Ballroom  Homework: Read TIME article “America’s Transition” (on blog, week 4-5 lecture notes) and upload at least three questions concerning transgender and communication issues to D2L dropbox  Journal article?: Write 1-2 pages about which topics, hypos, part of the presentation reasonated with you – and why. Don’t forget, you have to submit 10 JOURNALS by the end of the semester.