Knowing a group well reduces reliance on rigid categorical thinking

Evidence

According to Allport, perceivers avoid simplifications when given a chance to acquire rich sets of information. That is, “the more they know about a group the less likely they are to form monopolistic categories” (Allport, 1954/1979, p. 172, emphasis original). The belief that people stay away from inflexible categories if they become acquainted with members of a stigmatized group is of course very optimistic. As anticipated by Allport, research has shown that a series of stringent conditions need to be met in order to change people’s views about social groups. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1161

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to contact hypothesis literature and the optimistic-versus-pessimistic tradition that Allport himself flags.