Author: Baoshan Zhang

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Published: 2023-02-06

Total Pages: 161

ISBN-13: 2832513719

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.