Stereotypes, Prototypes, Prejudices and Generalizations

Whenever we talk about cultures, most of the time, if not all of the time, we use mental categories, representations, and generalizations to describe groups. These categories that we think of are usually called stereotypes. The term stereotypes has a negative meaning, they are oversimplified behavioural patterns applied uncritically to groups.

On the other hand, the term prototypes describes general characteristics that are dynamic and may change. They are based on objective observations and usually have a considerable amount of truth in them. This is, in fact, a good thing. Prototypes can be helpful in studying culture.

Stereotypes are fixed and rigid. The worst part about stereotypes is that even though they may sometimes be exaggerated and overgeneralized beliefs when applied to groups of people, they are not always false and may also often contain part of the truth. That is mainly what identifies them as a stereotype while on the other hand, when the stereotype develops into a rigid attitude and when it is based on erroneous beliefs or preconceptions, then it should be called a prejudice.

Generalizations take place when we strive to categorize new data in order to make sense of it. Whenever we are confronted with something new or unfamiliar, we look for ways to relate it to something we know in order to feel more comfortable and be able to work with this data. Being able to draw generalizations from masses of data is a sign of intelligence and learning. In this case, when discussing cultures, it is important to be able to make generalizations and describe cultural prototypes.

When it comes to the intercultural workforce, we must be able to deal with all four of these categories. Stereotypes, prototypes, prejudices and generalizations affect the way we see people and how we treat them. We must be able to understand that every person is different and unique and we must not judge a book by its cover because we might find ourselves surprised at the story behind them.