4.2.A—Explain how stereotypes and implicit attitudes contribute to the behaviors and mental processes of prejudice and…

Explain how stereotypes and implicit attitudes contribute to the behaviors and mental processes of prejudice and discrimination.

• A stereotype is a generalized concept about a group. Stereotypes can help reduce cognitive load when making decisions or judgments. Stereotypes can be the cause and/or result of biased perceptions and experiences and are frequently the basis of prejudiced attitudes and discriminatory behaviors.
• Implicit attitudes are those that individuals hold but may be unaware of or may not acknowledge. Research has focused on how implicit attitudes reflect negative evaluations of others, as demonstrated by the just-world phenomenon, out-group homogeneity bias, ingroup bias, or ethnocentrism.