In our daily lives, we constantly encounter people from different backgrounds. To make sense of this complex social world, our brains often use mental shortcuts. However, these sho
Faglig kvalitetssikret av lærere og toppstudenter · Følger læreplanen (LK20) · Sist oppdatert 2026-07-16
Introduction
In our daily lives, we constantly encounter people from different backgrounds. To make sense of this complex social world, our brains often use mental shortcuts. However, these shortcuts can lead to stereotypes, which in turn can fuel prejudice and result in discrimination. These three concepts—stereotype, prejudice, and discrimination—describe a sequence from thought to feeling to action that can lead to profound social injustice and inequality. Understanding how they work is the first step towards creating a more fair and inclusive society.
Learning objectives
After reading this article, you should be able to:
- Define and clearly differentiate between stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination.
- Explain the psychological reasons why people form stereotypes.
- Provide examples of discrimination based on various group memberships, such as age, gender, or disability.
- Understand the concept of unconscious bias and how it influences our behaviour.
- Identify strategies for reducing prejudice and combating discrimination.
Stereotypes: The Mental Shortcuts
A stereotype is a generalised and often oversimplified belief about a particular group of people. It is a cognitive shortcut—a way for our brains to quickly process information about others by placing them into categories. For example, common stereotypes include the belief that "all politicians are dishonest," "all elderly people are bad with technology," or "all athletes are unintelligent." …