Perception of Ethnic Groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Cognitive construction of the social world is based, among other things, on beliefs we have about members of different social groups. These beliefs are typically called stereotypes. Beliefs about members of groups to which an individual does not belong are called hetero-stereotypes; beliefs about members of one’s own group are called auto-stereotypes. It is considered that the term ‘stereotype’ was introduced into scientific and everyday language by the American scholar Lippman in his study Public Opinion (Lippman, 1922), in which he defines the term as ‘pictures in our head’, which are formed on the basis of our cultural influences and everyday experiences. The definition of the term has not changed significantly, and social stereotypes are usually defined as shared beliefs among members of a group about the common characteristics of their own or any other group of people. Although such a definition emphasizes the cognitive nature of stereotypes, it seems that, in the case of ethnic (and other) stereotypes, one cannot avoid their evaluative nature; therefore, it is with confidence that we dare to add that these beliefs represent exaggerated evaluations.

Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.

Albert Einstein