Canadian Health Information Management Association Practice Exam

Grouping people based on characteristics and making assumptions based on that is known as?

1. Group perception

2. Perceiving

3. Perception

4. Stereotyping

The correct answer is: Stereotyping

The concept being described involves categorizing individuals based on shared traits and forming generalizations about those individuals based on their group membership. This process is known as stereotyping. Stereotypes arise when assumptions are made regarding individuals based on characteristics such as race, gender, age, or other defining traits, often leading to oversimplifications that do not account for individual differences. In sociological terms, people often create mental images or ideas about the characteristics, behaviors, and attributes of groups, which can influence their perceptions and interactions with those individuals. While the other terms may relate to aspects of how individuals or groups are viewed, they do not capture the specific action of forming generalized beliefs about a group that is prevalent in the context of stereotypes.