Harmful Psychological Effects of Racial Stereotyping

Racial stereotyping involves a fixed, overgeneralized belief about a particular group of people based on their race. And while some people say things like, "I don’t stereotype anyone based on their appearance," the truth is that everyone does it due to mental shortcuts influenced by our racial socialization.

What Is Racial Stereotyping?

Racial socialization is the process of receiving information about the values and perspectives of our race from our parents, caregivers, and other influential people.

Your brain creates mental shortcuts to help you rapidly respond to situations based on past experiences or societal messages about various races, thus leading to stereotypes. But these shortcuts are generalizations and rarely accurate assessments of an individual or group. They’re what’s known as a cognitive bias.

When left unchecked, stereotypes may lead to prejudice and discrimination. Acknowledging stereotypes and their psychological impact, however, is the first step in breaking down those beliefs.

How Racial Stereotypes Are Formed

When you encounter someone, you make split-second judgments based on that individual’s appearance. Within an instant, your brain is trying to help you determine whether an individual is trustworthy and safe, or whether they likely pose some sort of emotional, social, or physical risk. And these judgments will affect how you feel and how you act.

Many of your stereotypes were developed when you were a child. Here’s how some generalizations about race can likely be formed:

• When your teachers showed you famous scientists and historical figures, what race were most of the examples? 
• When you watched crime stories on the news, what race did you see most often? And in what roles?
• How did your parents talk and interact with people of other races?
• How did your family treat people who were the same race as them?
• Who were your childhood heroes? 
• What race were most of your favorite sports figures?  
• Were the entrepreneurs, celebrities, and musicians you liked mostly a certain race?
• How do advertisers portray certain races? 
• Who tends to appear in magazines or advertisements as the ideal standard of beauty? 
• Do you see certain types of people being portrayed as smart? Wealthy? Healthy?
  

Racial Subtype Stereotypes

When most people think of racial stereotypes, they think of an entire race being grouped together. However, research shows we tend to categorize people according to their subtypes. 

It’s important for individuals to consider how they categorize people into subtypes and what stereotypes they may hold about these groups in general.

How Your Stereotypes Impact Your Emotions

The way you think about other people affects how you feel and how you behave. A person’s race may affect the emotional response you have when that individual:

• Walks past you
• Sits next to you
• Approaches you
• Strikes up a conversation with you

Your emotional responses may range from anxiety and apprehension to relief or pity. 

How Racial Stereotypes Influence Your Behavior

Your stereotypes affect how you behave as well. Here are some examples:

• When you’re reviewing resumes, the candidates’ names may influence whether you contact them. Names that make you think someone is part of a certain group or race may attract you while other names may deter you.
• You might walk to the other side of the street when you see individuals from a certain group approaching you.
• You might choose a seat in class or when using public transportation based on what people look like. 

Microagressions

Stereotypes are also likely to lead to microaggressions. Here are some examples:

• Asking someone from another race where they are from as if to imply they must not be American.
• Saying, "You’re so articulate," because you’ve stereotyped individuals of a particular race to be inarticulate.
• Assuming someone of a particular race has a certain occupation.

Effects of Stereotype Threat

Individuals on the receiving end of stereotyping are also impacted emotionally and behaviorally.

Dealing with the threat consumes cognitive resources and leaves people less able to succeed in the situation, which then reinforces the stereotype. This can contribute to disengagement, underperformance, and self-handicapping.

Being Stereotyped Can Lead to Self-Stereotyping

Research has also found that stereotyped individuals may begin to act stereotypically because they want to be more included in their group.

Consequently, negative stereotypes can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. A child who has grown up in a redlined neighborhood where gang activity is present and who has also been socialized to believe that people of their race engage in crime, for example, is more likely to engage in illegal activity during their lifetime.

Building Awareness of Racial Stereotyping

Recognizing your stereotypes and the potential damage they do is the first step in creating change. Fortunately, you can take steps to change harmful stereotypes.

• Have compassion for yourself: It's not your fault that you have stereotypes—they likely developed in the context of society and social networks that you largely had no control over in your early years.
• Educate yourself: Make an ongoing commitment to educate yourself on the different types of bias as well as the histories and realities of racism and white supremacy.
• Pay attention to the stereotypes you see in the media: Becoming more aware of them will open your eyes to how often these beliefs are reinforced. This said, it's also important to take breaks as constant exposure to stereotypes in the news and on social media can be harmful.
• Breakdown your stereotypes: Monitor the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that reinforce your beliefs, and choose to look for the truth about people.
• Work to reduce the stereotypes you portray to others: Be conscious of your social media posts and conversations, and avoid reinforcing negative stereotypes.
• Connect with safe people: Having a support network of family, friends, or mentors can help you work through your emotions and better cope with any outcomes.
• Stay grounded: Incorporate activities like yoga and meditation into your daily life.
• Decide what's best for you: If you’re on the receiving end of a stereotype, acknowledge how it affects you. This may mean speaking up, or it may also mean simply acknowledging it to yourself.
• Seek support: A mental health professional can help you identify and develop strategies for dealing with negative stereotypes and biases.

Keep in Mind

Racial stereotyping is influenced by how the mind works, but it is the racial socialization that we all experience that controls how these stereotypes form and are expressed. If you hold negative racial stereotypes about other people, it is important to start taking an active approach. Work on becoming anti-racist by actively challenging negative attitudes and beliefs about others whenever you encounter such ideas.