Final answer:
Katz and Braly's study in 1933 found that the stereotypes held by white American college students were highly consistent and generally negative towards other ethnic groups. This is because stereotypes are oversimplified generalizations that are resistant to change.
Step-by-step explanation:
Katz and Braly (1933) conducted pioneering research on stereotype content. Their findings revealed that stereotypes held by a particular cultural group (in their study, white American college students) about other groups were remarkably consistent among the members of that cultural group. The students tended to hold specific, stereotypical beliefs about ethnic groups that were widely shared among their peers. These stereotypes frequently cast other groups in a negative light, illustrating biased and prejudiced attitudes prevalent at the time. Stereotypes are defined as oversimplified generalizations about groups of people, and while they can be positive, they are more frequently negative. Moreover, these stereotypes are often resistant to change because of confirmation bias, which is the tendency for people to seek out and pay attention to information that supports their preexisting beliefs, perceptions, and stereotypes. This perpetuates stereotypical thinking and hinders our ability to view individuals as unique and separate from these broad generalizations.