I really like to post when there is synchronicity happening in my life. I don't believe in coincidence, I believe in synchronicity.While I am not religious or spiritual, I do believe that everything happens for a reason and some things are destined to be. Destiny, fate, energies--some things that, as much as you want them to happen, the stars just won't align at that moment. Things happen when they are meant to happen. I guess you could say that I also believe in absolutes; black in white opposites. Do or do not. Generally that's how sciences work. (I don't know who made up all of the science laws, but I digress).
At the moment, my life is seeming to line up with the common theme of stereotyping.
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In an extra-curricular activity, we had a discussion topic of stereotyping this week. In my college classes we have talked about Disproportionate Minority Confinement (DMC) which has its roots in stereotypes, profiling, and sanctions based on race. Slightly less related, we have done data collection in survey research where demographics are analyzed. In another class we have talked about the issues surrounding attachment mechanisms, mostly based in biology--the point to which I focus my stereotype discussion.
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Kendra Cherry defines a schema as
"a cognitive framework or concept that helps organize and interpret information. Schemas can be useful because they allow us to take shortcuts in interpreting the vast amount of information that is available in our environment. However, these mental frameworks also cause us to exclude pertinent information to instead focus only on things that confirm our pre-existing beliefs and ideas. Schemas can contribute to stereotypes and make it difficult to retain new information that does not conform to our established ideas about the world." http://psychology.about.com/od/sindex/g/def_schema.htm
Let's break this apart:
"A cognitive framework or concept that helps organize and interpret information."
An idea or concept created by the brain that helps organize and interpret incoming information.
"Schemas are useful because they allow us to take shortcuts in interpreting the vast amount of information that is available in our environment."
Our brains simply can't process all the stimuli in the environment. Schemas are created to make brain processing more efficient.
"However, these mental frameworks also cause us to exclude pertinent information to instead focus only on things that confirm our pre-existing beliefs and ideas."
Our brains absorb the agreeing information to reinforce the pre-existing schema more readily. This stems from a confirmation bias--the tendency to search for/interpret/prioritize information in a way confirming own beliefs or ideas.
"Schemas can contribute to stereotypes and make it difficult to retain new information that does not conform to our established ideas about the world."Based on the confirmation bias aforementioned.
That all being said, schemas are not conscious and are biological. Can we help that our brain makes shortcuts for information that is generally true--rule of thumb information? No.
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Again, these are just examples of what's out there, not representative of my beliefs.
Not all stereotypes are bad, but a lot of them are not positive. And I'm definitely not saying to go out and use those stereotypes because they are 100% accurate--because they're not. They are oversimplified, and in my opinion, bullshit.
However, stereotyping is a reality that we have to face. Being aware of these stereotypes and increasing your own self-awareness is the fastest way to eliminate your own (usually unintentional) stereotypical thoughts, comments, or ideas. Maybe one day, profiling others will phase out of society, but maybe not.
A stereotyper is usually seen as an ignorant bigot. A stereotypee is seen as a victim of society.
What is my point here?
In order to be a more inclusive and tolerant, melting-pot society, we must be more cognizant of our thoughts surrounding stereotyping. People cannot help but to stereotype, it is based in biology to place like things in schemas. However being aware of your own thoughts and dispositions is the only way to bring about change.
Do you want to be known as an ignorant bigot?
Probably not.
A stereotype is "a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing" (I just typed this into Google).Would you like some examples? Keep in mind, these are examples and are not representative of my beliefs. I have noticed people like pictures, so here you go.
~~~~~
Again, these are just examples of what's out there, not representative of my beliefs.
Not all stereotypes are bad, but a lot of them are not positive. And I'm definitely not saying to go out and use those stereotypes because they are 100% accurate--because they're not. They are oversimplified, and in my opinion, bullshit.
However, stereotyping is a reality that we have to face. Being aware of these stereotypes and increasing your own self-awareness is the fastest way to eliminate your own (usually unintentional) stereotypical thoughts, comments, or ideas. Maybe one day, profiling others will phase out of society, but maybe not.
A stereotyper is usually seen as an ignorant bigot. A stereotypee is seen as a victim of society.
What is my point here?
In order to be a more inclusive and tolerant, melting-pot society, we must be more cognizant of our thoughts surrounding stereotyping. People cannot help but to stereotype, it is based in biology to place like things in schemas. However being aware of your own thoughts and dispositions is the only way to bring about change.
Do you want to be known as an ignorant bigot?
Probably not.
