Successfully navigating novel social interactions requires that we be able to engage in fast and efficient person perception. To achieve this goal, we rely on categorization and stereotyping. However, evaluating others on the basis of categorical knowledge can sometimes produce pernicious outcomes, particularly in the case of stereotyping and prejudice (e.g., based on an individual’s race, gender, or appearance). In order to develop effective interventions to overcome these negative effects, it is important to develop a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms that underlie stereotyping. My research uses a multi-faceted and novel approach that incorporates behavioral, cognitive, and neuroimaging techniques to identify the mechanisms underlying stereotyping and prejudice from three converging perspectives: first, how perceivers form stereotypes; second, how the formation of stereotypes changes over the adult lifespan; and finally, how stereotypes affect their targets (through stereotype threat).
