___ are a socially shared set of cognitive generalizations (e.g. ,beliefs and expectations) about the qualities and characteristics of the typical member of a group or social category.

A) Categorizations
B) Stereotypes
C) Meta-contrasts
D) Social identifications
E) Heuristics

Stereotypes

Widely held but fixed and oversimplified images or ideas of a particular type of person or thing, which can influence social perception and behavior.

Cognitive Generalizations

The mental process of forming broad concepts or principles by abstracting common features from specific examples.

Heuristics

Mental shortcuts or rules of thumb that simplify decision-making processes, often leading to quick but sometimes inaccurate judgments.