Changes in stereotype content reflect adaptation to social norms, not reduced prejudice

Evidence

Billig warned social psychologists not to be complacent when considering the changing nature of racism. As he argued, just because one can observe changes in the frequency and content of ethnic stereotypes, it does not mean that ‘the racial store of common-places has been declared locked until further notice’ (Billig, 1996 , p. 247). What it means is that ‘detached from their old value, some racist images, beliefs, and even feelings may now travel under the protection of acceptable, and formerly contrary, values’ (ibid.). As a consequence, it may be more reasonable to assume that, in certain conditions, changes in the frequency and content of ethnic stereotypes might be seen more as a sign of stereotypes adapting to ‘the prevailing temper of prejudice’ (Allport, 1954 , p. 204) than an indication of an actual reduction of prejudices. — Cristian Tileagă, The Nature of Prejudice, 204

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to Billig’s ‘prevailing temper of prejudice’ idea and to the moral-exclusion framing of the book’s title; also echoes how language shifts under social-desirability pressure (see general literature on expressive norms).