Stereotypes support survival

I’ve often thought about it this way — the same way a blue jay knows that a monarch caterpillar causes sickness, we may see a person or group of people and feel we’re at risk. A feeling isn’t a fact, but it represents something learned, and yes, it could be offensive. My view is that we should lean into stereotypes if it is a matter of survival. They can give us an understanding of what to avoid, a higher chance of prevention, and a greater likelihood of survival.