Counterstereotype


A counterstereotype is an idea or object that goes against a standardized mental picture that is held in common by members of a group and that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or uncritical judgment.
Although counterstereotypes arise in opposition to stereotypes, they may eventually become stereotypes themselves if they are too popular.
An example is the character type called the magical negro; Spike Lee popularized this term deriding the archetype of the "super-duper magical negro" in 2001 while discussing films with students at Washington State University and at Yale University.

Examples

Social psychologists have found that people tend to react more negatively to counterstereotypical people than to stereotypical people.