The existence of common stereotypes has permeated the culture and can affect how some people interact with each other in daily life. Understanding the implications, sources and types of stereotypes can lead to a more tolerant and informed society, the outcome of which can justify further debate for the benefit of underrepresented groups. In this article, we look at the psychology behind stereotypes, the impact common stereotypes can have on mental health, and the importance of not making broad generalizations about specific groups and individuals.

What Are Stereotypes?

Stereotypes are generally defined as oversimplified ideas and assumptions about certain groups of people. When we stereotype someone, we can assume that a person has a certain range of characteristics based on their belief in the characteristics of the group they associate them with. For example, many people associate dark makeup and dark clothing with “gothic” or “alternative” lifestyle and fashion.

To understand where stereotypes come from, it helps to have a background in classical conditioning theory.

What is classical conditioning in the context of stereotypes?

In general, all people are exposed to some form of classical conditioning at some point in their lives. Classical conditioning is the matching of an automatic response to a specific stimulus.

It is a type of learning that can take place at a subconscious level. To understand classical conditioning, it may be helpful to identify examples of your own conditioning. For example, if you always order a certain dish at your favorite restaurant, passing by may trigger a craving for that particular dish.

Many believe that classical conditioning refers to stereotypes as a generalization. Generalization can occur when you generalize stimuli with responses, which can amount to stereotyping.

How Are Stereotypes Harmful? 

Using stereotypes may be one method we could try to simplify our social worlds. Unfortunately, this can lead to social categorization, which can be part of biased attitudes. The development of biases can lead to a restrictive us versus them mentality, which can contribute to social and interpersonal conflict. The most harmful stereotypes are considered by many to be categorizations that focus on generalizations about people based on race, religion, gender, age, weight, or sexual orientation.

Stereotypes and generalizations can influence our behavior towards certain people because of preconceived ideas. Behaviors influenced by stereotypes can range from fairly neutral to extremely problematic.

While in some cases stereotypes can seem rather innocuous and can be abused for laughs in popular media, generalizations like these can lead to much more dangerous generalizations that can have lasting effects on a social subgroup.

It is not uncommon for seemingly "minor" stereotypes to cause major damage. For example, someone may be served worse in a restaurant because they are based on the misinformed stereotype that members of their subgroup are "bad" tipsters. Such interactions are commonly referred to as "microaggressions".

Current research suggests that the repeated experience of microaggressions can lead to a cascade of stress-related physical and psychological problems. While this may have adverse effects, we would like to emphasize that therapy can be a valuable resource to utilize, potentially providing a listening ear and helpful behavioral suggestions for those affected so they can advocate for themselves and others. .

When stereotypes result in unfair or disadvantageous treatment of individuals and groups based on characteristics such as race, gender, age or sexual orientation, they can fall under the category of discrimination.

According to the American Psychological Association, discrimination is officially classified as a public health problem.

Discrimination can happen in many ways, which is why awareness and transparency are important to most people in our society. While the United States has laws designed to protect people from discrimination on critical issues such as housing and employment, discrimination can also occur in other contexts.

The Importance Of Putting A End To Common Stereotypes

Stereotypes and discrimination don't just offend. Discrimination can cause damage at the institutional level.

Institutional discrimination can lead to many problems that affect basic survival needs such as employment, health care and housing for entire groups.

While many studies published over the past decade have primarily focused on discrimination based on gender or race, more recent studies on weight discrimination raise similar institutional considerations, particularly with respect to gender. availability of quality health care. Breaking stereotypes can start simple: with practice and mindfulness to encourage the development of empathy for others. It can often be important to tell us about other people, cultures and ways of life. Additionally, it may be helpful to undertake a self-assessment of your own beliefs and how stereotypes have affected your life and your interactions with people.

Benefits of Online Therapy for Victims of Discrimination

Experiencing discrimination or micro-aggression based on generalizations and stereotypes has been clinically suggested to have negative effects on mental health. While it's often helpful to seek support from your community, it can also be helpful to talk to a mental health professional.

Is Online Therapy Effective? 

According to a study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research Mental Health, online therapy would be extremely effective in reducing the symptoms of certain mental illnesses, in particular those associated with depression and anxiety disorders. Additionally, online therapy is considered to be as effective as in-person therapy in addressing these issues.