Perceiving a group as an entity precedes stereotyping and discrimination against it

Evidence

Entitativity refers to the extent to which an aggregate of people is perceived to be an independent entity, to have real existence as a group. We do not identify with, attach importance to, or show favoritism toward a group, nor do we stereotype or discriminate against a group, unless and until that group is perceived as a meaningful entity. In that sense, the perception of group entitativity is a fundamental building block on which all other aspects of group perception are based. — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 288

Categorization

• DEFINE: Clear definition of entitativity grounding the whole chapter.
• XREF: Connects to the ingroup/outgroup cognition thread from the prior Allport reassessment: entitativity perception is an enabling condition for the outgroup demonization mechanisms discussed there. — connects to: Merely categorizing people into us and them produces discrimination against them — Leonard S. Newman and Ralph Erber (eds.), Understanding Genocide: The Social…, 88
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 288