OSH Security Practice Test

Which one of the following would be an example of a 'stereotype'?

1. Men on average are larger than women.

2. People who exercise a lot are in better shape than those who do not exercise at all.

3. Older people are poor drivers.

4. People of Asian ethnicity tend to have black color hair.

The correct answer is: Older people are poor drivers.

The statement that "older people are poor drivers" exemplifies a stereotype because it categorizes all individuals within a specific age group based on a generalized belief about their driving abilities. Stereotypes often simplify complex traits and behaviors by attributing them to an entire group, which can lead to misconceptions and biases. While the other statements contain truths based on averages or common observations, they do not encompass the same level of blanket generalization about a group’s abilities or characteristics without individual variation. For instance, the idea about men being larger on average than women reflects a statistical observation rather than a broad-brush characterization of individual abilities or behaviors.