Persistence of Ethnic Stereotypes and the Relative Importance of Positive and Negative Stereotyping for Association Preferences

Abstract

The stereotyping of 10 ethnic groups by American college students over a 30-yr. period was examined by comparing data from 1932, 1950, and 1961. There was much variation among the time periods but persisting, “core” stereotypes were found for 8 of the groups. Evaluative stereotyping was highly related to preferences for association with ethnic group members in both 1932 and 1961. Subdivision of evaluative stereotyping into its positive and negative components showed that associative preferences were virtually completely predicted by the negative component. The positive component was unrelated to association preferences and served to weaken the predictive power of the negative component when combined with it. The interpretation is offered that substantial stereotyping and prejudice remain among college students but that students are becoming increasingly sophisticated and subtle in their manifestations of them.