Our perception of things and people depends largely on the ideas and images that are prevalent in a particular society or culture. Not bothering to in-depth analysis of these ideas, but limited only superficial knowledge, we accept them as a system to categorize unfamiliar objects.
For example, the traffic police inspector, we are likely going to be perceived as greedy briber may tend to crime, concealed incomes, biased and knows how to use the SDA as a means of enrichment, contrary to the current legislation. About the stereotype of the profession has developed in our country. As far as this conception is correct?
Some authors, such as M.-A. Robert, F. Tillman, it is believed that such stereotypes operate without any objective grounds. They argue that this view has nothing to do with reality, but only meets human needs in the compilation and classification of what he thinks and feels. Manipulation of stereotypes in this case is represented as an obstacle to mutual understanding between people.
But if a stereotype has nothing to do with reality and only a hindrance, why did we have them learn and use so often? T. Shibutani proves that things are not so simple. Indeed, we learn a stereotype, not yet having their own view of reality, thanks to rumors, conversations, movies, etc. But stereotypes are working model of perception only when they find practical confirmation. If you had to own "put the sleeve" traffic cop for parking or speeding, the social representation of which you only heard before, it is your stereotype perception. If all DPS inspector stopped you just to give you flowers, you would never have believed in what they really are unpleasant people as they are spoken.
But in this situation, it is due to the stereotype you were ready for a specific behavior of the inspector, so it was not unexpected for you or shocking. In this case the positive effect affects stereotype as perceived view you still had something in common with reality. And here stereotype contributed just alleviate understanding between you and the inspector. What's so wrong with that?
Consider another common stereotype. There is quite a stable representation of pregnant women as a capricious, whimsical, it is not healthy physically and mentally inhibited people. Through this presentation to pregnant treated more leniently forgive them more than others, indulge whims, often pampered. It would seem that, in this respect, there are only advantages. But this perception is unduly narrowed: people tend to attribute too much pregnancy. And if you during pregnancy, God forbid, picked up hepatitis? Few others think that nausea in this case is not a result of toxicity. Yes, and you are likely, too. And access to a doctor arrive late, and the consequences can be dire.
Thus, we see that the stereotypes have both pluses and minuses. On the one hand, stereotypes simplify the perception of members of certain social communities, facilitating interaction with them. On the other hand, this simplification is often unjustified, excludes from the perception of many important factors that explain the behavior or condition of a person, sometimes leading to irreparable mistakes.