Ethnic Studies Review
Orginal Publication Date
2012
Journal Title
Ethnic Studies Review
Volume
35
Issue
esr/vol35/iss1
First Page
121
Last Page
133
Abstract
The current research investigates whether communities use ethnicity as a cue when forming personality impressions of others. Past research has shown that dress, smiling, hairstyle, and even facial symmetry of targets produce systematic differences in personality impressions across the domains of the Five Factor model of personality. We investigated whether the stated or apparent ethnicity of groups and individuals also produce stereotypic impressions of personality. This study compared impressions across members and non-members of the target groups and examined "cue utility" i.e. whether impressions of the groups agreed with aggregated self-impressions by group members. In all, the results clearly suggest that people utilize ethnicity as a cue when forming impressions of the personalities of groups and individuals, and although those impressions are exaggerated consistent with stereotype theory, they confer some utility in interpersonal perceptions across cultures. Stereotypes are a strategy used to interpret the complex social environment in the absence of more specific information. When that information is available, perceptions of others become more refined and accurate. Keywords: stereotyping, ethnicity, Five Factor model, Native Americans, cultural sensitivity, personality
Rights
Copyright ©ESR, The National Association for Ethnic Studies, 2012