Year: 2018
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Research on stereotype formation has proposed a variety of reasons for how inaccurate stereotypes arise, focusing largely on accounts of motivation and cognitive efficiency. Here, we instead consider how stereotypes arise from the asymmetrical manner in which information is sampled from the environment. Examining group-based generalizations in the context of approach/avoid decisions, we propose that initial negative interactions with a few group members cause subsequent avoidance of the entire group, even when these interactions are unrepresentative of the group overall. Critically, as information gain is contingent on approaching the target, such avoidance leads to a failure to update one’s beliefs about the group, even when the group has drastically changed. 9 studies provide support for these hypotheses, demonstrating that approach-contingent information gain results in failures to accurately update beliefs about initially negative groups. We also present initial results of computational models that test whether negative representations are reinforced by avoidance.
Source: TSpace (University of Toronto)
Author: Allidina, Suraiya
Institution: University of Toronto
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3145879586