Differential bonding: toward a psychophysiological theory of stereotyping

The author uses the concept of affiliative-affectionate bonding and the concept of differentiative-aggressive bonding to answer questions regarding the human tendency to stereotype. He states that the human processes of affiliation, introjection, identification, and affection appear to be psychophysiological elaborations of approach-seeking physiology and that differentiation, projection, and aggression appear to be psychophysiological elaborations of withdrawal-avoidance physiology. He also points out that some measure of stereotyping and paranoia may be necessary because differential bonding appears to be essential for adaptation.