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Is There A Generalization Of Brouwer's Fixed Point Theorem?

At what point does a generalization become a stereotype?

  • One of the strategies that we use to facilitate learning and understanding foreign (as in unknown) concepts is generalization and association. We create schemas or mental maps. I think this is a wonderful, effective, built-in tool. But I think that in some cases a stereotype is a too-mature-for-its-age generalization. But at the same time, if one of us was fully capable of avoiding this, it seems like that is more like a lack of an ability. You don't have to think of a certain race as doing only certain negative things to be stereotyping. So where do you personally draw the line? (I hope this makes sense..)

  • Answer:

    Wow! This is a thoughtful question and equally thoughtful answers. Stereotypes are generalizations, which means that they are true of many people in a group, but not of all. Stereotypes traditionally are thought of as being resistant to change in the face of new information, whereas generalizations are more easily changed as new evidence comes in. One reason for this--stereotypes frequently fulfill a need of the stereotyper, such as to feel superior, that encourages a resistance to change. So, I'd say if a generalization doesn't change with new information, and if it also supports a larger belief system of the holder, it goes beyond generalization and enters the world of stereotyping.

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intent -------- and ignorance--- stereotyping. being general--- what applies to most of a group!!!!

djay

Your question does make sense. I'd say that it's a hard line to draw... we all generalize, to a certain degree, on a daily basis. Generalizations aren't necessarily bad.. or necessarily dangerous. For example, I have yet to meet a tall Hmong person. They do tend to be short. And every Sudanese individual that I've ever met has been very tall. But I'd say that once our generalizations cloud our judgement and aid in the formation of unfounded negative ideas about a group of people, it turns into a negative stereotype.

Lanani

I think the line is crossed when an individual fails to recognize that the generalization doesn't apply to *all* members of a certain group. For example, let's just say that Mr. Smith noticed 5 different people wearing blue shirts all kicking over mailboxes. OK, maybe postal workers have gotten a bad rap over the years because of a few "select" individuals.....anyway, Mr. Smith decides that all blue-shirted people like to kick over mailboxes. Then he notices a 6th blue-shirted person walking by a mailbox without inflicting damage. What does Mr. Smith think? A) If Mr. Smith says, "I refuse to believe this," he has crossed the line to stereotyping. B) If Mr. Smith accepts what he saw, he might think "Well, *most* blue-shirts kick over mailboxes." He will probably eventually see that not all blue-shirted people do this, but it was just a fluke that 5 people did it. In short, if once you see evidence to the contrary and are willing to believe it's not a "group thing," then you're not guilty of stereotyping. Generalizing comes from observation of actual events, while stereotyping occurs beforehand.

wheezer_april_4th_1966

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