Categorical thinking makes prejudgment unavoidable and even functional.

Evidence

Allport anticipated the rapid, thoughtless, even automatic nature of categorization, and its link to prejudices: “The human mind must think with the aid of categories … We cannot possibly avoid this process … [that] results inevitably in prejudgments” (Allport, 1954/1979, pp. 20, 24, italics added). Social psychologists and their lay audiences have been shocked by how rapidly categories cue ingroup advantages to us and match outgroup stereotypes to them. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 297 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Allport provided a unique insight into the psychology of prejudice – how fundamental and adaptive cognitive and motivational processes can often contribute to the development and maintenance of prejudice. One of the most basic processes is social categorization. Allport (1954/1979) wrote: “The human mind must think with the aid of categories… . Categories are the basis for normal prejudgment. We cannot possibly avoid this process” (p. 20). — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 533 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Even the categories and laws of thought are historically mutable, not fixed — Fredric Jameson, Marxism and Form, 690; Open-mindedness is impossible because thought requires preexisting categories; Categorization is an unavoidable cognitive basis for prejudgment. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 533 (+11 more)

Broader Connections

• Categorization inherently produces prejudgment that cannot be avoided #corroborates (0.98) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 297
• Categorization is an unavoidable cognitive basis for prejudgment. #corroborates (0.97) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 533
• Categorization that grounds prejudice is normal and unavoidable mental functioning. #corroborates (0.96)
• The non-identical can only be approached through concepts without being subsumed #complicates (0.78) — Dirk Braunstein, Adorno’s Critique of Political Economy, 1242
• Categorization enables thought but inevitably blurs the individual features it generalizes. #complicates (0.75) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1154
• Knowing a group well reduces reliance on rigid categorical thinking #complicates (0.74) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1161