From Metal to Man
A stereotype used to be a chunk of metal; In the late eighteenth century, the term "stereotype" described a metal plate that was used in the printing process. These metal plates were used to seamlessly duplicate typography; Stereotypes were used to create hundreds of copies of text that were identical to one and other. In more recent times, the term "stereotype" has evolved; Now, a stereotype is an overly-simplistic image of an individual that is subconsciously projected onto groups of people in a cognitive effort to label hundreds of people as identical to one and other. Modern stereotyping distorts perception through oversimplification; This slanted perception can be curbed through being educated and aware of its existence. …show more content…
It is engrained within humans; To once again refer to Bloom's ted talk, stereotyping is an unconscious and powerful act, almost like a reflex. Humans cannot truly control this cognitive impulse; but, what they can do is control the way that they act based upon it. When meeting someone new, humans have two choices. First, they can choose to succumb to their stereotyping cognition; They can accept their subconscious categorization as fact, and then choose to carry that bias with them in their social interactions. In other words, humans can choose to be judgmental, rude, prejudice, and even racist. The second option is to acknowledge that while this cognitive impulse to categorize is not arbitrary, it is also not suitable for every situation; The second choice is one to resist the categorization of humans, and to accept the fact that most people cannot be accurately labeled based on their gender, age, or race. It is a choice to be accepting, kind, and non-judgmental. I am someone who prefers option two.
In the past, a stereotype use to be a metal copy of typography that was used to create identical copies. Essentially, it was a mold. Now, in 2016, a stereotype is an overly general and simplified image of a person that is used to categorize other people in a way that portrays them as identical copies of that image. Essentially, it is still a mold, just now for human beings instead of literature. In conclusion, stereotyping offers a fallaciously simplistic view of the human race, and therefor distorts perception; this distortion can be curbed only through an active awareness of its
A stereotype used to be a chunk of metal; In the late eighteenth century, the term "stereotype" described a metal plate that was used in the printing process. These metal plates were used to seamlessly duplicate typography; Stereotypes were used to create hundreds of copies of text that were identical to one and other. In more recent times, the term "stereotype" has evolved; Now, a stereotype is an overly-simplistic image of an individual that is subconsciously projected onto groups of people in a cognitive effort to label hundreds of people as identical to one and other. Modern stereotyping distorts perception through oversimplification; This slanted perception can be curbed through being educated and aware of its existence. …show more content…
It is engrained within humans; To once again refer to Bloom's ted talk, stereotyping is an unconscious and powerful act, almost like a reflex. Humans cannot truly control this cognitive impulse; but, what they can do is control the way that they act based upon it. When meeting someone new, humans have two choices. First, they can choose to succumb to their stereotyping cognition; They can accept their subconscious categorization as fact, and then choose to carry that bias with them in their social interactions. In other words, humans can choose to be judgmental, rude, prejudice, and even racist. The second option is to acknowledge that while this cognitive impulse to categorize is not arbitrary, it is also not suitable for every situation; The second choice is one to resist the categorization of humans, and to accept the fact that most people cannot be accurately labeled based on their gender, age, or race. It is a choice to be accepting, kind, and non-judgmental. I am someone who prefers option two.
In the past, a stereotype use to be a metal copy of typography that was used to create identical copies. Essentially, it was a mold. Now, in 2016, a stereotype is an overly general and simplified image of a person that is used to categorize other people in a way that portrays them as identical copies of that image. Essentially, it is still a mold, just now for human beings instead of literature. In conclusion, stereotyping offers a fallaciously simplistic view of the human race, and therefor distorts perception; this distortion can be curbed only through an active awareness of its