Which of the following contributes to the formation of stereotypes?

The formation of stereotypes is significantly influenced by the concept of outgroup homogeneity. This refers to the tendency of people to perceive members of an outgroup as being more similar to one another than they actually are. When individuals categorize others based on group memberships, they often assume that members of groups different from their own (the outgroup) share similar characteristics, beliefs, or behaviors. This simplification can lead to the development of stereotypes, as it reduces the complexity of understanding diverse individuals within that group to broad, often inaccurate generalizations.

Outgroup homogeneity contributes to stereotypes by promoting the idea that all members of the outgroup are alike, which diminishes appreciation for individual differences. This can perpetuate misconceptions and biases, as the rich diversity within the outgroup is overlooked or ignored, leading to a lack of empathy and understanding.

Other concepts like ingroup differentiation, cultural diffusion, and spatial association do have relevance in the context of social identity and interactions, but they do not specifically underline the mechanism by which stereotypes are formed in the same direct way as outgroup homogeneity. Ingroup differentiation highlights how individuals perceive their own group as more diverse and unique, which does not contribute to forming stereotypes about others. Cultural diffusion involves the sharing of cultural elements among