类属性思维(Stereotype)的三维度理论及其争议

The Three-Dimensional Theory of Stereotypes: Controversy and Advancement of Its Potency,Accuracy and Evaluation

类属性思维(stereotype)是社会心理学研究的一个重要课题。然而,其概念和三维度——激活性、准确性、评价性在人类决策过程中的作用以及实质等方面均存在争议。与一般人们对类属性思维的理解不同,从激活性来看,类属性思维被激活的程度是不同的,并非总是被自动激活;从评价性来看,类属性思维消极与积极的程度有异,并不总是消极的;从准确性来说,大多数类属性思维的准确性是很高的,并不像人们所认为的"多与事实不符"。类属性思维对个人判断并不一定会产生特别大的负面影响,它也不是人际交往间产生偏见的主要原因。类属性思维,包括图腾思维和宗教思维,从实质上来看是人类进化和图腾认知的产物,它的本质是人类在不确定情况下对自然和社会现实进行分类的结果。

Social psychologists tend to agree that stereotypes are a very important research area.Though people associate stereotypes with prejudice and discrimination,this paper tries to clarify some incorrect ideas about stereotypes through the unique theory of EPA theoretical model(E=Evaluation,P=Potency and A=Accuracy).First,with regard to potency,stereotypes can range from automatic activation to little or no activation in a perceiver.In some situations,we can easily retrieve information from our experience or memories concerning the category of idea.But in other situations,we cannot easily do so.Second,with respect to evaluation,stereotypes are not necessarily negative,and stereotypes can be positive as much as negative.Third,in terms of accuracy,many stereotypes may be accurate largely while some are not.It is also pointed out that stereotypes may not affect human individuals'judgments.Nor can they cause people to have bias or discrimination.Finally,we explore the essence of stereotypes through evolutionary and totemic views.Totems link the natural world with the human world,and help us to categorize both animals and humans.Modern stereotypes serve the same categorizing function.In essence,stereotypes are the products of human evolution and totem cognition,which result from the categorizing of nature and social reality by human beings.