Determinants of Hetero-and Autostereotypes

Abstract

This study analyzed the responses of 1,184 college students from seven countries in the Americas regarding their auto- and heterostereotypes. The instrument included emic scales (culture-specific) and a set of etic scales (composed of semantic differential scales). The autostereotype as measured by the etic scales was found to be fairly positive in most groups of respondents. Both auto- and heterostereotypes were highly uniform (with uniformity on etic scales decreasing in countries that had experienced mutual conflict), highly intense (primarilyamong the autostereotypes), and congruent (principally those obtained through the emic scales). Mirror-imaging stereotyping was found among conflicting nations, and highly developed countries were perceived in a more positive fashion than the respondents' own group. High levels of contact and proximity produced negative stereotyping.