Enemy images tend to occupy a central position in groups' belief systems. Finally, people tend to seek out information which confirms existing stereotypes, and discount information which would challenge their stereotypes. They also tend to interpret information about the other negatively, in ways which support their existing stereotypes. Changing Enemy Images Despite these difficulties, it is possible to change enemy images. Stereotypes may change when their holders are presented with a large amount of disconfirming information in a relatively short period.
Stereotypes also change gradually over time.
Generally, the less emotional attachment there is to an enemy image, the easier it is to change. Stein draws on social psychology to describe the process of political learning, whereby enemy stereotypes may be improved. To illustrate this process, Stein uses the cases of Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, and Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev. There are a number of internal conditions which stimulate political learning. Structural changes can open up opportunities for learning, but are not themselves a sufficient cause of political learning.