Psychological Analysis: Stereotypes
by
S. Bhagat and R. Ellerson

The Question

Stereotypes exist in countries around the world regarding people of ‘other’ nations. This is ingrained in human nature to make life fit into neat, easily decipherable categories. As Americans visiting a foreign land, stereotypes about Americans held by the British are of high importance. Being media students conscious of the impact of the information age, questions arose about the involvement and responsibility of the imported American media in developing these stereotypes. Which American imports are selected and why, and what exactly is the English opinion of Americans?

Methods/Results: Television

See hyperlink for a list of American television shows that air on local British television within a one week time period. These were taken from the Time Out magazine issue no. 1526 for the week of November 17-24, 1999. Also, a questionnaire was designed to narrow down the feelings of the English towards Americans, to get them to talk about their ideas in a formatted manner.

• What does the average American look like? (male and female)
• Where are most Americans employed?
• Do you believe most Americans continue education beyond high school?
• What activities do you think most Americans participate in during their free time?
• Do you watch American shows on British television? If yes, which ones?
• How often do you find American events are featured in British newspapers?
• Have you ever been to the United States?

Seven English people were interviewed in the time permitted. An attempt was made to equally reach a range of groups in age and location within and outside the city of London. Three of those surveyed are under the age of twenty-five: two females and one male, one female and male from Derby and one female from London. The remaining four were above the age of twenty-five: two females from Derby and two males from London.

Out of 36 total American programs aired on British television within a one week time period, seven shows were targeted towards an audience aged thirty-five years and younger. The three talk shows (Leeza, Ricki Lake, and Oprah) can be targeted toward either generation. Since the other four programs all deal with family issues it can be said they target a middle-aged generation.

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Question #1 What does the average American look like? (male and female)

Male/50yrs./London- impossible to answer, the nation is too vast.

Female/32yrs./Derby- they’re all physically different; dress casually.

Female/30yrs./London- diverse, "…like London it’s a conglomeration

Male/30ish/London- very friendly, "they smile a lot."

Female/20ish/London- the women are bubbly and happy; "the men try to be the surfer type"

Male/19yrs./Derby- many races but arranged in a secular manner. Overly concerned with improving appearances.

Female/17yrs.Derby- desire by women and men to be beautiful, in reality overweight. (Respondent received this information from news reports)

Question #2 Where are most Americans employed?

M/50/L- in New York, many are in the entertainment business. Detroit, motor industry. It would vary according to the resources of each state

F/32/D- medical field, computer industry

F/30/L- medical field, computer industry

M/30/L- business; corporations

F/20/L- international business

M/19/D- computers

F/17/D- Clothing industry (Levi’s), restaurants and diners

Question #3 Do you believe most Americans continue education beyond high school?

M/50/L- yes, in computer sciences and technology

F/32/D- yes

F/30/L- yes

M/30/L- yes, "…but that is a worldwide phenomenon for nations with wealth"

F/20/L- yes, "but not necessarily all well-educated."

M/19/D- yes

F/17/D- yes

Question #4 What activities do you think Americans participate in during their free time?

M/50/L- 10-pin bowling, baseball, and football (American)

F/32/D- watching films, going out to eat, meeting with friends

F/30/L- they eat out a lot, baseball, watching television, going to films

M/30/L- watching films, "having chats"

F/20/L- watching television, eating out, dancing

M/19/D- watching sports and television

F/17/D- basketball, baseball, proms, dancing, music (rap), films

Question #5 Do you watch American shows on British television? If so, which ones?

M/50/L- does not watch television; prefers the radio

F/32/D- Friends, Ally McBeal

F/30/L- Oprah, Leeza, Sunset Beach

M/30/L- Seinfeld, movies on television

F/20/L- Seinfeld, Friends, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Ally McBeal

M/19/D- South Park, The Simpsons, Jerry Springer

F/17/D- Sunset Beach, Friends, Frasier, South Park, Ally McBeal, Jerry Springer, Ricki Lake, Montel Williams, Leeza, Oprah

Question #6 How often do you find American events are featured in British newspapers?

M/50/L- often, in both world and U.N. events. "They’re the world’s policemen."

F/32/D- a fair amount

F/30/L- very often; weather, shootings, political events

M/30/L- pretty often, "their take on world events is reported a lot."

F/20/L- a small amount, political scandals, radical weather

M/19/D- often

F/17/D- very often

Question #7 Have you ever been to the U.S.?

M/50/L- no

F/32/D- no

F/30/L- yes, to San Francisco

M/30/L- yes, twice to New York

F/20/L- no

M/19/D- no

F/17/D- no

Conclusions

According to the subjects of study, Americans have a reputation for watching baseball and movies. Seinfeld, Friends, Ally McBeal, and Jerry Springer were the programs most commonly watched by the British. Financially, the Americans were thought to be well-off enough to afford a college or university-level education. All of the respondents indicated Americans mainly continued education beyond the secondary level. Americans were perceived as having a reputation for being involved in business and computer technology more than any other field. Three respondents mentioned eating as a pastime, six of the seven mentioned either watching television, films or both. It seems as though the younger generation watches more American television. There was no evidence to show that the stereotypes about the American public were affected by whether or not the respondent had visited the U.S. The survey showed that the older generation was more aware of the size of the nation and how it made stereotyping nearly impossible. The younger generation was more apt to make judgements on questions that were deliberately vague. The older generation placed less emphasis on the stereotypes placed forth by the sitcoms and media, whereas, the younger generation focused on entertainment and tabloid issues.

American TV Programs and Films* that Air on British Television

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