Smell like a spicy bean burrito

Moustached with a spicy
bean burrito in his hip pocket?

An internet article I recently read got me thinking.

It was about how some people make “they all look alike” comments in response to experiences or observations about people of races different than their own.

Apparently, we’re notorious for this psychological shortcoming, and may be honest when making these statements.

Known in psychological circles as “The Other-Race Effect”, it has been frequently studied by researchers after first being recognized over a century ago at the beginning of mass immigration to America by foreigners searching for a better life.  

While there are several hypotheses for our behavior, one suggests that people think more categorically about members of other races than their own.  We notice differences in racial categories of people while failing to see how they may be similar to us in many ways.  

In a breath of fresh air relief, this article points out how the Other-Race Effect is not necessarily fueled by racist thinking.

So this means you don’t have to feel guilty when commenting how all Asians smell like fish.

And my American gringo friend is really being honest when he says how all Mexicans have moustaches and smell like a spicy bean burrito.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum