Unboxing and non-binary thinking (Reading)

One advantage of a stereotype or fitting people into boxes is that it enables us to respond rapidly to situations because of the generalised experiences. On the other hand it makes us ignore differences between individuals. The use of presumptions is a major way in which we simplify and make sense of our environment and social world; since they reduce the amount of processing (i.e. thinking) we have to do when we meet a new person or find ourselves in a new situation. So, the need for trying to fit other people into categories, is the natural default process, being aware of this helps rethink automatisms.