Title: Harmful Psychological Effects of Racial Stereotyping
Headings: Harmful Psychological Effects of Racial Stereotyping
Harmful Psychological Effects of Racial Stereotyping
How Stereotypes Are Formed
Racial Subtype Stereotypes
How Your Stereotypes Impact Your Emotions
How Stereotypes Influence Your Behavior
Microagressions
Being Stereotyped Affects Decision-Making
Being Stereotyped Can Lead to Self-Stereotyping
Building Awareness

Content: Your brain creates mental shortcuts as a way to help you rapidly respond to situations based on past experiences, thus leading to stereotypes. But these shortcuts are generalizations and are rarely accurate assessments of an individual or group. They’re what’s known as a “ cognitive bias .” 1 ﻿
Once you establish these beliefs, it’s difficult to change your way of thinking. This is because you’ll unintentionally look for evidence that affirms your beliefs and discounts any evidence to the contrary. When left unchecked, stereotypes may lead to discriminatory behavior. Acknowledging stereotypes, however, and the psychological impact they can have is the first step in breaking down those beliefs. How 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.