How do stereotypes in society affect you and how to get rid of them?

What it is

Stereotyping began to be considered in the 20s of the twentieth century. Stereotypical thinking is characterized as a narrow paradigm that is stored in the head to save effort required when perceiving certain complex situations and phenomena. Researchers have identified two reasons for the formation of such patterns: the economy of the mind and the desire to preserve the values of a particular group.

This kind of standardization has the following characteristic features:

sustainability;
selectivity;
emotional basis.

Simply put, people use stereotypes so as not to bother themselves with additional thinking. When they manage to find confirmation of their thoughts in the behavior of others, they become even more convinced of the truth of their own or collective conclusions. Stereotyping is a certain replacement for mental activity.

To one degree or another, each of us is subject to such beliefs, with the only difference being that some truly firmly believe in such “postulates,” while others are able to question them.

Various kinds of prejudices influence a person’s worldview, his behavior and encourage a distorted vision of reality. Patterns can be imposed by society or arise based on personal observations. The former are more harmful, since they impose an incorrect way of thinking on the individual and do not allow him to analyze the situation objectively and independently.

But still, without stereotyping, society could not exist. It allows consciousness to build important patterns:

water may wet;
it's cold in winter;
the flame burns.

Knowing this, we do not need to verify our assumptions in practice every time. However, there are stereotypes that affect a person’s consciousness and subconscious, preventing him from living.

You should learn to distinguish prejudices from the real state of affairs. The same concept can be dictated by the internal motivations of an individual or imposed on it by society. In the second case, the individual feels a conflict between his interests and what public opinion requires of him. The desire to follow stereotypes imposed from the outside distorts the vision of the real.

Often we judge others not by their actions, but by what others say about them. For example, a person who occasionally attends church may assume all the characteristics of a real Christian, although in fact this is not the case at all.

Stereotypes of mass behavior

The formation of stereotypes extends not only to large social groups or common phenomena, but also to individual cases. As a rule, the following phenomena influence people’s consciousness:

Rumors are information that quickly spreads through informal channels. As a rule, the message is based on some real fact, but its description is colored with shades of conjecture and does not always correspond to reality. It is interesting that when transmitting and receiving rumors, people, as a rule, do not think about their truth or falsity. As rumors spread, they may change and acquire new details.
Fashion is stable but short-lived ideas about behavior, appearance, type of activity, and so on. As a rule, the understanding of fashion varies among different social groups. Interestingly, this phenomenon is characterized by cyclicity. The same idea is first praised, then rejected, and later becomes relevant again.
Mass addictions are phenomena that quickly form and spread in the process of interpersonal interaction. Their essence lies in the desire to satisfy various desires and passions. These can range from frivolous hobbies to serious political convictions.

Stereotyping effect

This is the process of the emergence of a stable belief or image, when, based on one’s own or social practice, a person fixes in the mind some picture of the world.

When encountering a previously unknown phenomenon, the brain begins to analyze the situation and look for something familiar in it. The resulting settings compare a new object with a similar group, which allows you to quickly classify data and, if necessary, retrieve it from memory.

Key features of social stereotypes

A social stereotype is an integral part of all spheres of life of a modern person. This category has the following key features:

Predetermines how certain life situations will be perceived. Thus, we can say that a person learns about the world around him not directly, but through stereotypes that have developed in society or formed in the mind.
Formalizes and depersonalizes communication, which serves as some way of “saving” mental resources. Thanks to stereotypes, the brain acts automatically, comparing the existing situation with a previously formed model.
Includes a description and characteristics of the situation. This helps reduce the time it takes to develop a reaction and evaluate a specific event or incident.
Characterized by persistence and continuity. As a rule, stereotypes pass from generation to generation, regardless of their objectivity or subjectivity. At the same time, followers do not always ask themselves about the correctness and legality of the judgments imposed on them.

Features of stereotypical thinking

Thinking in patterns means not logically justifying information when receiving different experiences, but comparing what is happening with what has already been deposited in the mind. Thus, the world becomes safer for the mind, since it is subject to a certain order.

Psychologist Daria Milai

Make an appointment

Stereotypes can be formed from childhood. These are beliefs, values, norms, reactions, assessments that a child absorbs from adults. When the mind is subject to stereotyping, it interferes with the full and comprehensive development of the personality. Independence and objectivity of views disappear.

Patterned behavior is most often encouraged by society. In other words, when a person lives like everyone else, he does not strive to show individuality - it is so simple, calm and comfortable.

Prejudices allow you to act “automatically” and prevent you from looking at the situation from a different angle. Stereotypical processes presuppose the presence of an attitude: to act only this way and not otherwise. Someone whose behavior is determined by stable patterns has a hard time accepting new things, treating them with distrust and even aggression, since unknown information disrupts internal balance and comfort. He has a specific, proven model of action, and he follows it.

Advantages and disadvantages

Pros:

automatic thinking, which helps in everyday matters;
the ability to group objects and phenomena, facilitating the thought process;
“pass” to one or another group of society.

Minuses:

lack of freedom of thought and action;
development slowdown;
patterning prevents you from accepting new things and learning;
the occurrence of errors when the situation is not similar to the usual one, and the individual cannot move away from a stable image;
gullibility, inability to conduct a critical analysis.

Ways to identify stereotypes

The influence of stereotypes on human behavior and lifestyle is so great that it is not always clear where the truth is and where the error is. You can identify an artificial or false stereotype using the following basic techniques:

discovering stable, unchanging topics of conversation in your environment;
filling out questionnaires or interviewing;
method of unfinished sentences (the experimenter begins a phrase describing some phenomenon, and the subject must continue it);
identification of associations (a person or group of people is given 30 seconds to formulate an attitude towards an object or phenomenon).

Types of stereotypes in psychology

Patterns of perception.
Ethnic.
Gender.
Age.
Social.
Attitudes in communication.
Heterostereotypes.

Stereotyping can be superficial or deep. In the first case, we are talking about beliefs formed by an unfounded assessment of various external characteristics: the emotionality of Italians, the perfectionism of Germans, the laziness of Russians. As a rule, they change due to the development of mankind.

A deeper version of patterning involves patterns of behavior and thinking that are transmitted between people over years or even centuries. For example, many consider the balalaika, matryoshka, vodka and bears to be essential elements of the Russian tradition.

Face-to-face consultation

What are the features and advantages of face-to-face consultation?

Find out more

Skype consultation

What are the features and benefits of Skype consultations?

Find out more

They are formed under the influence of certain historical events.

Examples of popular stereotypes in society:

it is impossible to achieve success in a career without “pull”;
a man never cries;
children are dependent, helpless;
Jews are a mercantile people;
a woman on a ship is a bad omen;
the higher the price, the better the quality of the product;
You cannot live with dignity without higher education.

It is believed that the girl is weak, passive and frivolous. She is often perceived as an “appendage” of a man. To compensate for her natural inferiority, she must strive to look more beautiful than everyone else and cunningly capture a rich and attractive husband. Then you need to give birth to children and live off your patron. A lady does not need to be strong or occupy high positions. Otherwise she will feel unhappy.

Representatives of the male sex have also acquired their own stereotypes. There is a common belief that a priori are the main ones in a relationship. Another illusion is that every guy loves football, is obsessed with sex, and they are also terrible womanizers. “All men cheat!” – you’ve probably heard this statement more than once.

Parents are convinced that children should meet their expectations. All teenagers are considered difficult, and their dreams and plans are not taken seriously, attributing their impulses and ideas to “youthful maximalism.” Middle-aged people are in a state of crisis. Old people are sick and unhappy. Young people think only about entertainment and do not respect their elders. Unemployed people are losers, and happiness is impossible without a huge bank account. Not believing in God is madness. Society is replete with stereotypes about what is “good” and what is “bad”, what a “normal” person should be, how and where one can obtain the “correct” knowledge. However, most of them are associated with fears, complexes, weakening of analytical thinking and are not supported by logic.

What are stereotypical attitudes?

Below I will describe in more detail the most common models that exist in the social paradigm.

Gender stereotyping: women and men

A girl is an emotional, unreasonable, weak creature. Her mission is to give birth, run the house and take care of the man.
Every girl needs to learn how to apply makeup, dress beautifully and behave properly around boys, in order to later find someone who will fully provide for her and her children.
Strong ladies are usually loners.
A single mother is an unhappy, abandoned victim.
A business woman has no time for family values.
A man should be a little more handsome than a monkey. His task is to earn money to provide financially for the woman. They don't need love, they only want sex.
Representatives of the stronger sex should not express their feelings or perform “feminine” duties: cooking, washing.
A real man must work, support his family, and drive a car.

The above examples of common stereotypes show that many people do not see an individual personality behind a particular person. Due to the huge number of cliches that we receive in childhood, problems arise in relationships: partners are simply not able to hear and understand the position of the other half.

During my consultation, you will be able to destroy many illusions regarding energy. You will find your resource state, realize your own importance and move to a new level of development of your individuality.

Children

They are obliged:

Listen to adults in everything.
Fulfill the unrealized plans of parents.
Get good grades in school.
Go to university in agreement with mom and dad.
Don't be smart.

At the same time, it is believed that all kids are ugly, they cannot be trusted with anything, they break and spoil things. The younger generation is dissolute, stupid, young people are not aware of what they are doing.

Happiness

The essential elements of a happy life are:

Money.
A dream come true.
High social status.

But in fact, each person has his own system of coordinates, values and desires. You have the right to decide for yourself what is important to you.

"Correct"

Only in elite universities can you get a good education.
“Normal” people get jobs regardless of their desires. You don't have to like the activity.
You need to live in your homeland, and not move to another country.
It is necessary to follow trends.
You need to dress in expensive stores.
You cannot live without faith in God.
The opinion of an individual must correspond to the position of the majority.

What are modern professional stereotypes: examples

These include average images of a follower of a certain profession.

Ask a question

Policemen

These clichés are fueled by various films and TV series. They arise due to the rare contact of ordinary people with law enforcement officers. The most common speculations:

every employee is brave and selfless;
on missions, law enforcement officers constantly fight bandits;
Moreover, all police officers take bribes.

Doctors

They don't get sick.
Regardless of the profile, a good doctor knows the recipe for any disease.
A real specialist always carries a first aid kit with him to provide first aid to a person on the street or in a public place.

Lawyers

They always wear a suit.
Too many people enroll in law school, and it’s difficult for graduates to find work.
They earn a large amount.

How do they form?

Patterns pass from one generation to the next. Already in childhood, parents lay down norms of behavior in us, teach us how to act and think correctly. People are greatly influenced by the society and cultural characteristics of their country of residence. These clichés help to adapt to life in society, but dependence on stereotyping leads to the fact that a person does not develop fully; it is easier for him to act and think as is customary than to take risks and encounter new life models.

How they change and what it depends on

Over time, stereotypical behavior changes its vector. What was once unacceptable is now commonplace. This can be observed in the example of the transformation of people’s attitudes towards the institution of marriage.

The change in the role model of women is also obvious. Now she can move up the career ladder on an equal basis with a man and occupy positions that were previously considered exclusively male.

Functions of stereotypes

Social stereotype is an integral part of human life. Despite the fact that this phrase usually causes negative associations, this phenomenon is important for society. Positive stereotypes perform the following important functions:

Simplification and systematization of complex information flows. Every day a person is faced with huge information flows, which he physically cannot always process. Formed social perception eliminates the need to react to certain frequently recurring phenomena. On the one hand, stereotyping saves mental resources, and on the other hand, it reflects social reality.
Intergroup differentiation by evaluative comparison. Thus, representatives of one social group more easily establish relationships through self-identification. It also allows us to ensure the integrity of society and clearly distribute intergroup roles.
Explanation of existing intergroup relations. Stereotyping has been a powerful political mechanism to subjugate the masses since time immemorial. Its role can be both positive (creation of social order) and negative (oppression, suppression, enslavement).

Role in the life of the individual

To carry out this or that activity, an individual needs to process information and analyze it. In addition, it is important for him to feel part of a certain community.

However, more often than not, stereotypical thinking greatly limits people and prevents them from expanding their horizons. Because of our patterns, we miss a large number of opportunities, do not pay attention to prospects, and make mistakes in assessing those around us.

The most popular stereotypes about Russia: examples

Usually, when people are going abroad, they keep in their heads a list of so-called stereotypes about a particular nationality. Over the years, Russia has accumulated quite a few stereotypes that foreigners continue to attribute to it. Some of them are partly true, others are completely untrue, and this can be said about any state and its people.

It is very important to understand that not all people are cut into the same mold. Therefore, the time has come to dispel some age-old myths about the Russian people.

Most popular name

Ivan is the most popular male name in Russia . It's not even Russian. Rather, it is an East Slavic version of the Hebrew name. From 2010 to 2020, the name Ivan occupied sixth position in the list of the most common male names. The top three were occupied by the names Alexander, Sergey and Dmitry.

By the way, even Russians often call the name Natasha the most popular female name. Nevertheless, Natasha takes third place, Elena is in first, and Olga is in second.

Appeal

Russians call each other “comrades” . This word was invented by the Bolsheviks to replace the pre-revolutionary ways of addressing people - “Mr.” and “Madam.” You can address a person “in a comradely way,” but this has long gone out of common parlance.

And if you suddenly hear such an appeal, then, most likely, it was said with a slight touch of irony.

How Russians dress

All Russians wear a hat with earflaps. And also a military waist belt with a buckle. And felt boots with bast shoes. And, of course, a traditional Russian shirt! Russians do not have traditional clothing. Russia consists of many nationalities and cultures, which implies completely different clothes from each other.

Ushanka is still good for winter, but it was more popular during Soviet times. At that time, the clothing industry was state-owned - therefore, hats with earflaps were produced according to the government’s plan. Today, most people prefer regular knitted hats, because wearing earflaps can be terribly hot at -15°C.

Military belts were also widespread during the Soviet period, when it was difficult to find a more decent waist belt.

Felt boots are good for a snowy village or a walk in the forest, but they get very dirty in the slush of a winter city.

Foreign languages

Russians understand other Slavic languages - Polish, Czech, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, etc. - and speak them.

To the Western ear, almost all Slavic languages may sound the same because they come from the same language group. However, there are both similarities and significant differences - especially in vocabulary and grammar.

Many Russians can understand some Ukrainian or Belarusian words, but learning Serbian, Polish or Czech will be a little more of a challenge for a Russian.

Bears as part of society

Bears walk the streets of Russian cities . While it is not unusual for a bear or elk to wander into a remote Russian village, bears are not in the habit of walking on city streets. This is too dangerous for both the animal and people.

Alcohol addiction

In Russia, everyone drinks vodka hopelessly . As of 2020, Russia ranked sixth in the world in alcohol consumption (first place behind Lithuania). Moreover, men drank 15 liters per year, and women – 7.8 liters.

Vodka, of course, is what people drink most in Russia, but this does not mean that everyone drinks it. Most likely, individuals are fighting for the honor of the country by setting daily records.

Let's find out what will happen if stereotypes about Russia become real.

WHAT IF all STEREOTYPES about Russia become REAL

(The video does not work on turbo pages; to view it, go to the main version of the site. Link at the end of the article.)

How to fight stereotypes

On the one hand, templates help relieve the mind from excessive stress. But at the same time they become limiters of thought.

You should not blindly believe everything that is accepted in society. Check the data received from outside and draw conclusions based only on your own experience.
Highlight those behavior patterns that exist in you, but have not been practically confirmed. Try to prove them or abandon them.
Find a refutation of those attitudes that have no factual or logical basis.

Definition of the concept

What is a stereotype? A stereotype in a broad sense is an established pattern of behavior , a cliche, a prejudice.

Often stereotypes have nothing to do with reality; they are created by people’s thinking based on superficial data.

The word consists of two: “stereo” - “solid” and “tipos” - “imprint”, literally an imprint in our brain of a certain concept.

Beliefs may concern a specific group of people, for example, the presence of a specific characteristic of race, behavior, traditions. Often lead to erroneous perceptions.