Ethnic and Role Stereotypes: Their Relative Importance in Person Perception

the stereotype.Consequently, inferences st~ fram an ethnic stereotype are not often likely to be an accurate predictor of a person's behavior.In addition to this, rnany recent studies on interpersonal behavior have pointed out that the majority of our interactions take place within the context of roles Ce.g., Jones & Thibaut, 1958).It appears then that the more efficient interaction will result fram utilization of role eues mediated by role stereotypes rather than ethnic eues and ethnic stereotypes.The relative importance of these two cognitive sets may therefore, have implications both for ethnic perception as a process and for ethnd.c group relations.