Stereotyping among Aboriginal and Anglo-Australians

Abstract

Procedures suggested by Triandis et al. (1982) were used to examine the auto-and heterostereotypes of Aboriginal- and Anglo-Australian adolescents. The sample included 90 Aboriginal- and 260 Anglo-Australian grade 9 and 11 students. Each student responded to schedules that included attributes arranged on bipolar scales. The attributes were selected only after extensive discussions with Aboriginal- and Anglo-Australian adults. The heterostereo-type that the Anglo-Australians had of Aboriginal Australians was unfavorable, uniform, and characterized by an intensity that reflected extreme negative feelings. In contrast, the heterostereotype that the Aboriginal Australians expressed for Anglo-Australians was particularly favorable and defined by intense positive orientations on a number of attributes. The autostereotype of the Anglo-Australians was very favorable, whereas the Aboriginal Australians defined an autostereotype that was only moderately favorable.