A sexist man assumes that an assertive and strong woman whom he has just met must be a "feminist" and thus he is able to maintain his more general belief that women are passive and dependent. This example best demonstrates
A)how the fundamental attribution error can produce and maintain stereotypes
B)how people can maintain stereotypes in the face of contradictory information
C)the process called in-group favouritism
D)the phenomenon called stereotype threat

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This example illustrates how an individual can maintain existing stereotypes despite encountering evidence that contradicts those stereotypes. The man's assumption about the woman being a "feminist" because she is assertive and strong allows him to reconcile her behavior with his preexisting belief that women are generally passive and dependent, thus maintaining his stereotype.

A Sexist Man Assumes That an Assertive and Strong Woman