Stereotypes

Usually the people is connected with a small groups of people, even the
most sociable person only is connected with relatives, some friends,
classmates and workmates but if you ask him or her "What do you think
about arab, scottish, chinese or bolivian people?" surely he or she answers
with a "personal opinion" about this groups of people. Probably his or her
answer will not be a "personal opinion", probably will be an overly simplified
way of thinking about a person or a group, and this is a stereotype.
There is another word "archetype" that sounds similar but has different
meaning, dictionary says:
1. the original model from which all things of the same kind are copied.
2. the best or most complete example of something.

The stereotypes are products of simplified way of thinking and often produce
prejudices, for example "all jews are tight-fisted" at the same time the
emisor puts distance and puts himself or herself in the archetype's place.
Respect to the arabian people we have built a stereotype from western
culture point of view but we don't consume cultural arab products, we think
that they are:
- religious fundamentalists
- authoritarian
- male chauvinist
- a society divided between very rich and very poor