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First published online December 10, 2015

Stereotype (In)Accuracy in Perceptions of Groups and Individuals

Abstract

Are stereotypes accurate or inaccurate? We summarize evidence that stereotype accuracy is one of the largest and most replicable findings in social psychology. We address controversies in this literature, including the long-standing and continuing but unjustified emphasis on stereotype inaccuracy, how to define and assess stereotype accuracy, and whether stereotypic (vs. individuating) information can be used rationally in person perception. We conclude with suggestions for building theory and for future directions of stereotype (in)accuracy research.

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Brodt S. E., Ross L. D. (1998). (See References). A field study that showed that college students’ predictions about individual dorm residents were more accurate when they relied on, rather than ignored, stereotypes relevant to those dorm residents.
Crawford J. T., Jussim L., Madon S., Cain T.R., Stevens S. T. (2011). (See References). Provides empirical evidence that diagnosticity was the primary factor determining whether people relied on stereotypes, individuating information, or both (i.e., that people relied on stereotypes and/or individuating information in an approximately rational manner) in political person-perception judgments.
Jussim L. (2012). (See References). An accessibly written book that reviews experimental and survey data regarding stereotype accuracy and biases in social perception, showing that stereotypes are often accurate and that the biases in social perception they produce are generally weak.
Jussim L., Cain T., Crawford J., Harber K., Cohen F. (2009). The unbearable accuracy of stereotypes. In Nelson T. (Ed.), Handbook of prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination (pp. 199–227). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum. A chapter that provides a logically coherent definition of “stereotype,” reviews conceptual issues and empirical evidence regarding the accuracy of stereotypes, and considers the role of stereotypes in increasing or reducing accuracy in person perception.
Ryan C. S. (2002). (See References). A paper that reviews methodological issues and empirical findings in the domain of stereotype accuracy, arguing that stereotypes can be accurate and useful despite their potential negative consequences.

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Published In

Article first published online: December 10, 2015
Issue published: December 2015

Keywords

  1. stereotypes
  2. social perception
  3. person perception
  4. accuracy
  5. bias

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Authors

Affiliations

Lee Jussim
Department of Psychology, Rutgers University
Jarret T. Crawford
Department of Psychology, The College of New Jersey
Rachel S. Rubinstein
Department of Psychology, Rutgers University

Notes

Lee Jussim, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854 E-mail: [email protected]

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