Stereotypes and Stereotyping in Interpersonal and Intergroup Relations

Abstract

The author analyzes the essential characteristics of the stability and variability of stereotypes, the formation and functioning of social and professional stereotypes. Various points of view of domestic and foreign scientists are presented, revealing the understanding of the term "Stereotypes" in interpersonal and intergroup relations and their socio-psychological features. Examples of the emergence, change and disappearance of social stereotypes, as well as the formation and causes of negative stereotypes are studied. The author considers a person's vision of social reality and hinders adequate mutual understanding of people as well as the integration of both intergroup and interpersonal relationships, which leads to increased interpersonal tension in the interaction between people. The main conclusions of the study are that social stereotypes are the result of information received through various sources and are only generalized representations of social reality. In conditions of information scarcity, the social stereotype plays a conservative role, forming people's misconceptions about what is happening, deforming the process of interpretation and the nature of interpersonal interaction. The formation and functioning of stereotypes directly depend on a person's awareness of social and professional reality. When people interact with each other, stereotyping carries an evaluative burden and is mainly a negative phenomenon. A distorted vision of social reality prevents adequate mutual understanding of people and integration of both intergroup and interpersonal relationships, which leads to increased interpersonal and intergroup tension.