And if these sources don't give you an accurate depiction, your stereotype won't be accurate.
For example, many Jews have been troubled by Shakespeare's depiction of Shylock.
If the only Jew you know is Shakespeare's Shylock, it's going to be a very bad impression.
So one problem with stereotypes is while we are good at drawing conclusions from them, often our information isn't reliable.
A second problem is that stereotypes, regardless of whether or not they're accurate, can have a negative effect on the people that they apply to.
And this is what psychologist, Claude Steele, described as stereotype threat.
He has a vivid example of this.
Here's how to make African-Americans do worse on a math test.
You have the test and you put on the test that they have to identify their race.
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