A stereotype is a belief about another person or group of people. Stereotypes are usually oversimplified descriptions based on only one or two characteristics, and even though they can seem either favorable or unfavorable, stereotypes about national groups are often insulting. People often stereotype others based on images they have seen or heard in movies, on television, or from other people. They may judge others because of differences in ethnic, political, economic, or religious backgrounds. During your study of American culture, it is very important that you do not use stereotypes to describe Americans. Therefore, if you have seen several Americans acting a certain way and you assume that all people from that group always act like that, then you are stereotyping.