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: Harmful Psychological Effects of Racial Stereotyping
Race and Identity
Race and Mental Health
Harmful Psychological Effects of Racial Stereotyping
By
Amy Morin, LCSW
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Amy Morin, LCSW, is the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind. She's also a psychotherapist, the author of the bestselling book "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," and the host of The Verywell Mind Podcast. Learn about our editorial process
Amy Morin, LCSW
Medically reviewed by
Medically reviewed by Akeem Marsh, MD on July 16, 2020
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Akeem Marsh, MD, is a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist who has dedicated his career to working with medically underserved communities. Learn about our Review Board
Akeem Marsh, MD
Updated on July 31, 2020
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. 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.