Essentialism serves to rationalize and justify rather than reflect group differences.

Evidence

Our review of the categorization process has highlighted the ways in which stereotypes function as categories that provide intuitive theories that, while aiding in understanding and navigating the complexities of intergroup life, bias the interpretation and use of information. In some cases, the stereotyped group is ascribed an inner essence that conveys something about group members’ basic nature. The group’s essence is seen as relatively immutable and as providing an explanation for why groups differ in terms of resources and opportunities. This observation moves us closer to more fully appreciating Allport’s remark that, “the rationalizing and justifying function of a stereotype exceeds its function as a reflector of group attributes” (1954/1979, p. 196). This is because, as Yzerbyt et al. (1997) note, “rationalization is best served by an essentialistic approach to social categories” (p. 39). More specifically, essentialism has a strong capacity to contribute to “system-justification” processes, which in turn mold the specific contents of stereotypes ( Jost & Banaji, 1994). — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1390

Categorization

• XREF: System-justification theory connects directly to the legal-order and moral-panic material in the reader’s knowledge base about how status hierarchies are stabilized.