A generalized belief held about a group of people that can create bias in our perceptions is called a

• A. Illusory Correlation
• B. Stereotype
• C. In-Group
• D. Out-Group

Answer: (B)

Stereotype. A stereotype is a generalized belief about a group that shapes how we perceive and interpret information about its members. These beliefs act as mental shortcuts, or schemas, guiding what we notice, how we remember events, and how we judge individuals. Because of this, people often pay more attention to information that confirms the stereotype and overlook evidence that doesn’t fit it, leading to biased judgments about individuals based on group membership. For example, assuming all members of a group share the same trait can color how you interpret a single person's actions, even if that person is unique.

Illusory correlation involves perceiving a link between two things that isn’t really there, which can contribute to bias but is about covariation perception rather than a broad, persistent belief about a group. In-group and out-group refer to the groups themselves, not the beliefs about those groups.