Once group stereotypes are in place, how are they applied to individuals? When the person is a stranger, a perceiver might (and perhaps ‘should’) apply the stereotype. The general principles of induction impel this sort of stereotype application. Years ago, I studied the stereotype of men being more aggressive than women (Krueger & Rothbart, 1988). Consistent with this stereotype, respondents rated an unknown man as more aggressive than an unknown woman. When single acts of aggressive behavior, from yelling to hitting, were added to the description, the gender effect persisted. A yelling or hitting man was rated as more aggressive than a yelling or hitting woman. Eventually, though, the behavioral information overwhelmed the gender stereotype. If someone was described as consistently or frequently yelling or hitting, this person was seen as equally aggressive whether male or female. … [Read more...] about Gender Wrap
