Stereotypes are rigidly believed simplifications that serve biasing work needs
Evidence
The need for biases may be rooted in the work structure, but the expression of this need may take different forms. Stereotyping thus may be thought of as aform of simplification. While simplifications are mental shortcuts (of many different kinds) that summarize and come to stand for more complex phenomena, stereotypes are simplifications in whose validity people strongly believe, and yet they are prejudicial and inaccurate as summary characteristics for groups of people with nominally similar attributes. — Michael Lipsky, Street-Level Bureaucracy, 1049
Categorization
- DEFINE: Distinguishes simplification (neutral mental shortcut) from stereotype (prejudicially believed, inaccurate) — the key conceptual distinction for tracking stereotype institutionalization
- XREF: connects to: Stereotypes rationalize planned as well as committed discrimination — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 1396; Frontline work structure, not worker prejudice, creates receptivity to stereotypes — Michael Lipsky, Street-Level Bureaucracy: Dilemmas of…, 844; Work structure creates the need for bias while society supplies its content — Michael Lipsky, Street-Level Bureaucracy: Dilemmas of…, 1049 (+3 more)
Broader Connections
- Frontline work structure, not worker prejudice, creates receptivity to stereotypes
#expands(0.90) — Michael Lipsky, Street-Level Bureaucracy, 844 - Stereotypes rationalize planned as well as committed discrimination
#corroborates(0.85) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1396 - Work structure creates the need for bias while society supplies its content
#expands(0.85) — Michael Lipsky, Street-Level Bureaucracy, 1049 - People stereotype groups to justify an existing division of labor
#corroborates(0.80)