It’s possible that rather than something complex relating to the word “stereotype” itself or “giving people permission to stereotype” or whatever else comes to mind, that this is just due to “stereotype” being a negative word with negative associations. In contrast, saying “most people don’t stereotype” simplifies into “most people don’t do bad things” for the average study participants, and will produce positive feelings in most participants.
For example, there was hub-hub a while ago about people being more likely to stereotype if they’re in a dirty place. Maybe just being told negative things about others and experiencing negativity in general leads people be more likely to do negative things such as stereotype, lie, cheat, attribute poor intentions to others, and so on. And there’s also the thing where judges convict more when they’re hungry.
I wonder if people were less likely to hire everyone, and being a member of some stereotyped group just makes you proportionately more targeted by people who are tired and having a bad day.
It’s possible that rather than something complex relating to the word “stereotype” itself or “giving people permission to stereotype” or whatever else comes to mind, that this is just due to “stereotype” being a negative word with negative associations. In contrast, saying “most people don’t stereotype” simplifies into “most people don’t do bad things” for the average study participants, and will produce positive feelings in most participants.
For example, there was hub-hub a while ago about people being more likely to stereotype if they’re in a dirty place. Maybe just being told negative things about others and experiencing negativity in general leads people be more likely to do negative things such as stereotype, lie, cheat, attribute poor intentions to others, and so on. And there’s also the thing where judges convict more when they’re hungry.
I wonder if people were less likely to hire everyone, and being a member of some stereotyped group just makes you proportionately more targeted by people who are tired and having a bad day.