Positive stereotype

[4] In The Nature of Prejudice (1954), Gordon Allport suggested that the categorisation of people into groups is adaptive.

In this initial study, students were found to associate distinct traits with each social group and that there was a high consensus among beliefs (e.g., Germans were scientifically minded and industrious, Italians were artistic, and Negroes were superstitious and lazy).

The researchers indicated that the motivation to positively stereotype groups as either warm or competent stemmed from perceived status and competition of an out-group.

For instance, social out-groups viewed as subordinate and not competitive (e.g., elderly people) are often stereotyped as higher in warmth, but lower in competence.

Being high in warmth and low in competence is considered to be a paternalistic stereotype, as the out-group is perceived as not inclined or incapable to harm the in-group.

On the other end of the spectrum, an out-group that is perceived as high-status and highly competitive (e.g., rich people) may evoke an envious stereotype.

However, feelings of envy or resentment about the group's higher status is justified by perceiving them as more cold (i.e., lower in warmth).

[11] Follow-up research has identified that for some subordinate groups being positively stereotyped as high in competence may vary in meaning.

In one study, before taking a math test, one group of Asian-Americans were subtly led to think about the association of Asians and better math ability through answering questions about their ethnic identity and family history (e.g., what languages they spoke, how many generations of their family lived in America).

Feeling depersonalized has been found to determine the extent of a person's negative reaction to being the target of a positive stereotype.

[17] For example, women who were told that they had performed well on a math test reported higher levels of anger and greater desire to attack or avoid the male test administrator if when he gave them their positive feedback, he said, "Wow...you did really well for a woman" versus if he simply said, "Wow...you did really well.

The amount of negativity felt and expressed was influenced by the extent that the positive stereotype made the participants feel depersonalised.

They found that both U.S. and non-U.S. born groups reported similar levels of depersonalization as a result of being a target of a positive stereotype.

However, unlike in their previous studies, the extent of feeling depersonalized did not predict negative reactions to being stereotyped for non-U.S. born Asian-Americans.

Eastern cultures promote more collectivistic values and individuals are more likely to describe themselves in relation to others and by their group memberships.