Stereotyping is a
mechanism that helps humans to make decisions quicker; we can say they are
mental shortcuts. It helps us to make judgments really fast. We have this
natural tendency of
categorizing things into specific group or individuals. We sometimes unconsciously make
generalizations of characteristics to project what we think. This can be very helpful! right? But sometimes we go beyond that. Stereotypes
can be positive or negative. Stigma and negative stereotypes in the other hand
are always abusive because they rob the person to be perceived as an individual
with his own trait. We can harm people by stigmatizing them. It is believed that
individuals that are not involved in traditional roles such as parental and
marital roles usually are stigmatized as less favorable in society. Single
people nowadays are perceived as unstable and less reliable when compared to
married people.
Today’s
society is changing, this norm is not as strict as it was in the past. In the past people used
to be more traditional, and the idea of marriage and family as the building
block of society was strongly reinforce by society. For example having children
out of the wedlock was something to be ashamed of. Marry was the right thing to do. Today this
norm still persist as a life goal but and people who are single tend to be judged,
stigmatized and discriminated. I believed that based on these societal norms we
sometimes display-distorted perceptions about singles and married people. In the emotional part we tend to believe
married and coupled people are more emotionally and socially stable, or the
contrary singles are perceived as selfish and egotistical. This prejudice against singles is even
stronger when they are individuals older. Older singles are perceived as more
immature and unstable in comparison to younger’s. Why does this matter? This stereotypes can a
great impact in people’s psychological wellbeing. They can intervene with job interviews decisions, salary
decisions, even the time of buying a house or a car stereotypes play a big
role, you will be surprise! For example people that combine family roles and work are seem as more socially competent, also married men
earn higher wages than unmarried and therefore are seen as more productive and
attractive. Being married has economic advantages such, social security and
taxes benefits and also more opportunities to get discounts for being perceive
as stable and devoted. isn’t this crazy ? ).
In general people believe that
there is something wrong with single people; that is something about their
personality, either they are too insecure to develop a romantic relationship or
therefore unable to maintain one, or they are too independent, selfish and
confident that they do not need a relationship to be happy. I think that
singilism can be related to personality but also life style plays a role.
Clearly our environment, people we are surround to, shapes our relationships.
Being married or in a relationship doesn’t necessarily means you are emotional
stable. After all, divorce rates remain high because people fail to find
happiness with their partners. These rates suggest that being married does not
necessarily lead to that people being well adjusted and emotionally stable.
Social competence, personality and adult attachment style in
a Portuguese sample. Personality and
Individual Differences, 24 (4), 565-570.
Shaver, P., & Brennan, K.A. (1992). Attachment styles
and the “Big Five” personality traits: Their connections with each other and
with romantic relationship outcomes.
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 18 (5), 536-545.
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