Social cognition : Thinking categorically about others

• Published in: Annual review of psychology Vol. 51; no. 1; pp. 93 - 120
• Main Authors: MACRAE, C. N, BODENHAUSEN, G. V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Palo Alto, CA Annual Reviews 01-01-2000; Annual Reviews, Inc
• Subjects: Analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Cognition; Cognition & reasoning; Cognitive balance; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Inhibition (Psychology); Memory; Perceptions; Psychological research; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Repression, Psychology; Social attribution, perception and cognition; Social cognitive theory; Social Perception; Social psychology; Stereotyping; United States; Human; Social perception; Memory; Review; Inhibition; Categorization; Social cognition
• ISSN: 0066-4308; 1545-2085
• DOI: 10.1146/annurev.psych.51.1.93

In attempting to make sense of other people, perceivers regularly construct and use categorical representations to simplify and streamline the person perception process. Noting the importance of categorical thinking in everyday life, our emphasis in this chapter is on the cognitive dynamics of categorical social perception. In reviewing current research on this topic, three specific issues are addressed: (a) When are social categories activated by perceivers, (b) what are the typical consequences of category activation, and (c) can perceivers control the influence and expression of categorical thinking? Throughout the chapter, we consider how integrative models of cognitive functioning may inform our understanding of categorical social perception.