Abstract:
The cognitive aspects of stereotypes focus on how our minds use mental shortcuts to process information about others
quickly and efficiently. Stereotypes play a significant role in how we process social information, offering both
advantages and drawbacks. On one hand, they allow us to efficiently navigate large amounts of information by filling in
gaps and providing a framework for understanding others. However, stereotypes are prone to inaccuracies and can be
distorted by cognitive and motivational biases, leading to unfair judgments and treatment of individuals. Two key
perspectives help explain the formation of stereotypes: the cognitive perspective and the motivational perspective.