Prototypes of People

Psychology says that we have preconceived notions of concepts, called prototypes. Therefore when someone says animal, the first thing I think of is a tiger, my prototype of animals. As the description continues, my envisioned picture does as well. The farther it goes from my prototype, the less I think of it as an animal. We all have different prototypes for all types of things, be it fish, tables, or teachers. As we learn more information, or prototype changes, reflecting the new info that our brain now has.

We all have prototypes of people as well. We think of Asians as being super smart, driven, and at the top of their class. Many of us have negative prototypes of Muslims, allowing the few radical Islamic terrorists form the prototype for over a billion people. And Justin Baker had his own prototype of a Jew. He had never met any Jews but he didn't let that stop his mind from forming the bigoted prototype that led him to vandalize our property in Jackson.

Although our mind automatically forms these prototypes and assimilates the info we learn into these notions, it is important to keep in mind that not everything we think is correct. That not everything we believe is right. It is paramount that we strive to form the most complete prototype that we can, ensuring that we don't have chauvinistic prototypes.