But at times we fool ourselves. We do not want to admit that our real motives are irrational. So we invent spurious reasons. By this we mean that human groups are characterised in terms of a few fairly crude traits or common attributes. These characterizations freeze in time so that it is difficult to change them.
Children learn stereotypes even before they can think for themselves.
Intergroup Behaviour', in Introducing Social Psychology , ed. Stereotypes are 'unscientific and hence unreliable generalisations that people make about other people either as persons or groups'. Prejudice, rationalisation and stereotyping function together in the social myths that undershore the power structures in society.