The Psychological Process of Stereotyping: Content, Forming, Internalizing, Mechanisms, Effects, and Interventions

  • 10k

    Total Downloads

  • 124k

    Total Views and Downloads

Download PDFDownload EPUB

Submit your idea

You will be redirected to our submission process.

Submit your manuscript summarySubmit your manuscript

About this Research Topic

Submission closed

Background

Stereotype is a pervasive and persistent human tendency that stems from a basic cognitive need to categorize, simplify, and process the complex world. This tendency is a precondition for social bias, prejudice, and discrimination. Previous research has mainly focused on the content, psychological mechanisms, and intervention strategies of negative stereotypes, as well as the stereotype threat phenomenon induced by an evaluative context where a negative in-group stereotype could be confirmed. However, there is a lack of research examining the psychological process of forming and internalizing social stereotypes, the neurocognitive mechanisms of stereotypes, and the interventions (including potential neurocognitive interventions) addressing the consequences of negative stereotypes.

Furthermore, as per the Behavioral Immune System (BIS) theory, the very presence of a pathogen is likely to increase stereotyping across various social categories, especially in those with a heightened perception of vulnerability to disease. Thus, stereotypes can be enhanced in the context of pathogen exposure such as the current outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. People exposed to the virus are more likely to suffer from personal and institutional stereotypes and discrimination, which may cause negative consequences to personal and social well-being. Therefore, in the current context of global Covid-19 pandemic, it is necessary to investigate the increasing biases (driven by stereotypes) regarding viewing pathogens as a threat, which holds across different social categories. Specifically, what constitutes and shapes stereotypes towards people living in epidemic areas? What are the consequences of these short-term shaped stereotypes? What is the relationship between the consequences of these stereotypes and traditional stereotypes (i.e., stereotypes towards race, gender, and age)? Will these short-term stereotypes interact with traditional stereotypes to exacerbate discrimination, or will the recategorization based on the short-term stereotypes during Covid-19 pandemic allow people to ignore the traditional inferior social identity, and in turn to promote social integration among different groups? And how can we prevent the increasing tendency of relying on stereotypes, and instead, increase pro-social behaviors in the Covid-19 context?

The current Research Topic focuses on understanding the psychological process of forming and internalizing social stereotypes, the neurocognitive mechanisms of stereotypes, as well as interventions (including potential neurocognitive interventions) regarding the consequences of negative stereotypes. And we also aim to gather the latest research investigating the broad psychological process of social stereotyping, with an emphasis on the implications under the Covid-19 context. That is, this Research Topic is also interested in the negative stereotypes specific to Covid-19 pandemic as well as relevant preventative interventions aimed at people perceived as at higher Covid-19 exposure risk. Theoretical and empirical research from psychology, sociology and related fields is welcome. Examples of possible themes for manuscripts include but are not limited to the following topics:
• The content of stereotypes;
• Social categorization and discrimination based on stereotypes;
• Traditional stereotypes and their consequences;
• The psychological process of social stereotype formation and internalization;
• The mechanisms (including neurocognitive mechanisms) of stereotypes and its consequences;
• The stereotype-neutralizing interventions (including neurocognitive intervention) strategies towards negative stereotypes;
• The psychological process of stereotypes during Covid-19 pandemic;
• The social group categorization and social cohesion during Covid-19 pandemic;
• The interactions between traditional stereotypes towards social groups seen as inferior in the dominant culture and the short-term stereotypes during Covid-19 pandemic;
• The strategies of tackling stereotypes in Covid-19 pandemic.

Keywords: Stereotype, Stereotype threat, Mechanisms, Intervention, Covid-19 pandemic, Social categorization

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Topic editors

Frequently asked questions

  • Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

    Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.

  • The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.

    Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.

  • As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.

    A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.

  • Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and it falls under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

    In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

  • Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

    As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.

    Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

     

  • Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

    Check available article types here 

  • Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

    Suggest your topic here 

  • A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.

    The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.

  • As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 

     

    You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

  • As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).

  • If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

  • Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

  • Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

  • As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

    Find out more about our Research Topics

  • Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

    Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

  • In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.

     

Impact

  • 124kTopic views
  • 98kArticle views
  • 10kArticle downloads
View impact