Stereotyping and Autostereotyping in Spanish, Malaysian, and American College Students

The stereotypes of four groups of college students including Spaniards, Malaysians, and Americans were examined in light of the amount of contact each subject group had had with each of the stimulus cultures. The subjects included Spanish students in Barcelona, Spain (n = 18), Malaysian students in the United States (n = 14), American students in Spain (n = 19), and American students in the United States who had never lived or studied abroad (n = 47). Analysis of the data revealed significant differences in the content of the stereotypes held by each of these groups as well as distinct tendencies to see others (regardless of ethnic group) in a particular way. The results also suggest that autostereotypes (beliefs about one's own group) are as variable as stereotypes and that the amount of contact with another culture strongly influences both. The context in which this cross-cultural contact took place seemed to be an important variable.