According to Cognitive Theory, Why Do People Stereotype

question 146

Multiple Choice

According to cognitive theory, why do people stereotype?

• A) Stereotypes protect us from the groups that might harm us or our relatives.
• B) Stereotyping is a normal process for reducing a complex world to a manageable level.
• C) Stereotypes come from shared beliefs which derive from culture.
• D) Stereotypes provide defense mechanisms that protect people's belief systems.

---

Definitions:

Passive-Aggressive Behavior

A pattern of indirectly expressing negative feelings instead of openly addressing them.

Primary Emotions

Fundamental feelings inherent in humans, such as joy, sadness, anger, and fear, that are immediate responses to stimuli.

Stress Response

The body's way of reacting to a challenge or demand, involving various physical and psychological responses.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Part of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for physical activity by accelerating the heart rate, constricting blood vessels, and raising blood pressure, among other things.