ABSTRACT Social psychologists have long investigated the effects of applying various stereotypes. Little is known, however, about how people are actually perceived in the real world. When are stereotypes applied to make inferences about others versus when are other types of knowledge used to make inferences about others? Further, given that each individual can be perceived in multiple ways (by sex, race, occupation, etc.), which stereotypes are most likely applied to different kinds of people? This research is an investigation of some of the parameters of stereotyping, focusing on understanding when stereotyping occurs and what kinds of stereotypes are most likely applied. The research goes beyond prior work in multiple ways. First, unlike much of the recent work in stereotyping, this research does not assume that individuals are automatically racist or sexist. Rather, it investigates how people are actually perceived, testing how other types of knowledge (other known individuals) can be used to make inferences about new individuals. Further, the University of Texas at El Paso offers the unique opportunity to study inter-ethnic tensions in a place where the usual white majority is the local minority. Given the changing demographics, with Hispanics fast becoming the majority group in the southwest, understanding racial stereotyping between Hispanics and Anglos seems particularly important - before it becomes a national problem. Thus, this research will test hypotheses derived from a newly developed model of person perception with the goal of understanding intergroup relations between Hispanics and Anglos.
