Why We Stereotype—and Why It Matters for People and Pets

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Stereotypes Series 1 of 5

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Stereotypes: Fast But Flawed

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Our brains have been hard-wired to use stereotypes as mental shortcuts. We don’t ask a toddler for directions or think a cat will bark because our brain has - quickly and unconsciously - determined what we should expect from them. When we see someone or something, our mind immediately sorts and organizes information to help us understand who or what we are witnessing. These shortcuts exist so we can make decisions more easily and quickly in a complex world.  

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But what we may gain in speed, we can lose in truth. Stereotypes lead to assumptions. Our brain does this unconsciously - so quickly that we don’t know it’s happening.

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When a person and pet walk in the door, our brain immediately sorts through a mental filing system of memories, messages, and experiences. The first thing we may do is size up a person’s gender, skin color, age, clothing, way of talking, and general appearance. We will look at the type and breed of pet, their collar or carrying case, what condition they are in, and if they’ve been altered. From this snapshot of information, we instantly start building our idea of who someone is - what they care about, how they will act, and how much money we think they have.

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Then, our brain uses these assumptions to shape what follows—how we interact with someone, the things we say, what we suggest, and the decisions we make. If the assumptions are wrong, everything that follows will be faulty, too.

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We also do this with our colleagues - if someone looks or talks a certain way or works in a particular job or organization - we form ideas about what they believe and care about. We decide if they are like us or different, helpful or harmful to our cause.  

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So what can we do?

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Stereotypes don’t suddenly disappear the moment we start talking and interacting with someone. They can be persistent, influencing what we do and decide. The good or bad “vibe” we feel when talking with a potential adopter is shaped by stereotypes. Judging someone who comes to use a pet food bank or low-cost services because they don’t “look like they need it” is influenced by stereotypes. Learning about where someone lives and then feeling that twinge of worry that they won’t be a caring guardian is fueled by stereotypes.  

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We can’t control the stereotypes that pop into our brains, but we are responsible for how these ideas influence the way we treat people and animals. If we don’t want stereotypes to lead us astray, we need to know how they impact the way we think and feel. We must be able to identify them so we can move past them. We need to create and repeat stories and messages that replace harmful stereotypes so it’s easier for all of us to treat animals and people fairly.

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True for One, Not for All

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Stereotypes are not always wrong for every person. A stereotype can sometimes be based on experiences with a few people. And when we meet with someone who fits a stereotype, we quickly use it as evidence that our assumptions are right. We are more likely to believe information that reinforces what we already think - “I’ve seen it with my own eyes, so it must be true!”

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Let’s take these common stereotypes as examples: There may be some quirky people out there with cats, but we know not every white woman who owns cats is a “crazy cat lady.” We may talk to a Latino man who does not want to neuter his dog, but this does not mean that every Latino man is opposed to neutering. A cat may be mistreated in a low-income neighborhood, but that does not mean that cats are more likely to be harmed in low-income neighborhoods.

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When we see, meet, or hear about someone that fits a stereotype we may believe that there is a “nugget of truth” to it. Stereotypes are overgeneralized ideas about who people are, and they are not based on accurate information.,,  We need to rely on the truth - not stereotypes - when understanding what is happening with people and pets.

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Keep Reading

This blog is part 1 in our 5 part series on stereotypes. Check out the next one...

--> How Messaging Builds Stereotypes in Animal Care and Well-being Work

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Acknowledgement

Thank you to our content reviewers and SPARC Advisory Committee, especially Dr. Azalia Boyd of the Critters & Cultures podcast, for ideas and insights contained within this blog and other blogs in the series on stereotypes.

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