Allport reframed stereotyping as functional information processing rather than pathology.

Evidence

Recent reviews and textbooks celebrate the ubiquitous implications of cognitive processes in the formation, use, and modification of stereotypes. Gordon Allport was in many ways the source of this “monomania” since he first drew scholars’ attention to the role of cognition in stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. Interestingly, Allport suggested that not only twisted and sick minds rely on unwarranted generalizations. Rather, he emphasized the normality of people’s faulty perceptions of social groups. In so doing, he claimed the study of prejudice and stereotyping as part of mainstream social psychology. Importantly, although Allport is known to have anticipated much of the later work on cognitive processes, he also emphasized the influence of motivational concerns in social perception. Over the years, it has become increasingly clear that motivational concerns must be fully integrated with cognitively-tuned approaches to stereotyping and prejudice. The field is only now achieving this kind of integration. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1144

Allport suggested that not only twisted and sick minds rely on unwarranted generalizations. Rather, he emphasized the normality of people’s faulty perceptions of social groups. In so doing, he claimed the study of prejudice and stereotyping as part of mainstream social psychology. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1144

Categorization

• XREF: Challenges the assumption that prejudice stems from twisted minds — resonates with social identity and system justification research.
• DEFINE: Defines the ‘normality of faulty perception’ thesis that grounds cognitive approaches to prejudice.
• corroborated: 3 independent passages support this claim — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1144; John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 1144