A stereotype is a fixed, overgeneralised, and often negative characterisation or set of beliefs about a particular group of people, based on simplified or exaggerated assumptions that are applied to all members of the group, regardless of individual differences. Stereotypes can be based on various social categories such as race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, or occupation, and they are often learned through socialisation and perpetuated by cultural norms and media representations. Stereotypes can lead to prejudice, discrimination, and unfair treatment of individuals based solely on their group membership, as they ignore the diversity and complexity within groups and can be resistant to change even in the face of contradictory evidence.