Abstract
Perceivers often form beliefs about others’ traits and behaviors based on their environments of origin. Life history theory suggests that two key ecological dimensions—resource scarcity and unpredictability—shape these beliefs. Individuals from unpredictable, resource-poor environments (“desperate ecologies”) are stereotyped as more impulsive, sexually unrestricted, less invested in education, and more prone to criminality compared to those from stable, resource-sufficient environments (“hopeful ecologies”). While prior research has focused on static stereotypes, real-world impressions often involve dynamic information, such as where someone currently resides and how long they’ve been there. How do impressions shift when individuals move between “desperate” and “hopeful” ecologies? In this study, we investigate how perceptions of traits and behaviors change based on transitions between ecologies and the duration of residence (e.g., “3 weeks” vs. “3 years”). Our findings highlight the flexibility of ecology-driven stereotypes and their implications for stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination.
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
Stereotypes, Life History Theory, Residence Duration, Trait Judgments, Ecology
