Stereotypes play an important role in shaping the “big picture.” Stereotypes might be defined as a deeply-rooted image of a particular concept or phenomenon built up on the basis of cultural and historic traditions (Nikitina, Don, and Loh 154). As a rule, this image does not meet the reality but reflects a distorted vision which tends to exaggerate a particular quality of the stereotyped object. Thus, for instance, people commonly associate men with strength, sports with health, etc. In the cultural context, stereotypes are likewise employed to summarize a particular nation. People are most exposed to apply stereotypical thinking to those nations which they do not have any close interaction with. This way of thinking does not imply a high level of objectively but usually has some negative or positive connotations. In this view, Germans are surrounded by a myriad of different stereotypes some of which are grounded, while others are evidently misleading.
While analyzing a set of nation-related stereotypes, it is important to differentiate between two large groups: appearance-related and personal characteristics. The former group is commonly based on summarizing the biological features of a particular nation. As such, Germans are usually described as blond-haired people with a physically strong body. Nikitina, Don, and Loh explain that this stereotype takes its roots in the ancient times – similar descriptions are found in historic texts belonging to Caesar and Tacitus (155). It might be suggested that such biology-based stereotypes are irrelevant to the modern reality when the portrait of all the European nations changes rapidly due to the intense flows of immigrants and a high percentage of intermarriages.
The appearance of nation-related stereotypes is largely determined by the current socio-cultural context. As such, Nikitina, Don, and Loh note that Germans and their country would be described as the “land of poets and philosophers” at the end of the 18th century (155). Later on, this stereotype would give place to a less romantic and a more negative image of this nation associated with the establishment of the Nazi regime. At that point, Germans would be thought of as aggressive and violent. Both stereotypes have disappeared throughout the history as the socio-political conditions changed reshaping the environment inside the Germany and transforming the character of its people. However, research reveals that even though the “aggressive” stereotype is no longer promoted, and there are no objective grounds for its cultivation, a significant number of research participants still choose this adjective to describe Germans (Nikitina, Don and Loh 156). The wrongfulness of this stereotype appears to be evident; meanwhile, it demonstrates how large-scale historical events trigger the appearance of fixed and deeply-rooted nation-related myths that turn out to be hard to dispel in the long run.
Another historically rooted stereotype about Germans suggests describing these people as methodological, hard-working and intelligent (Nikitina, Don and Loh 157). It is rather problematic to define the historic or socio-cultural reasons underpinning the appearance of this stereotype. It also seems to be difficult to either agree or disagree with this representation of the German nation due to the complexity of such concepts as “hard-working,” “methodological,” and “intelligent” (Nikitina, Don and Loh 158). Thus, such characteristic as “hard-working” is a very relative term. For some people, it might imply the desire to work longer hours, for others – the striving to complete the work as well as possible. Likewise, the characteristic “intelligent” might involve both a high IQ level and the worldly wisdom. The term “methodological” appears to be more like a metaphor once applied to characterizing a person. Whatever meanings these characteristics involve, the connotations they involve are evidently positive, so it seems to be preferable to agree with them.
Modern research reveals that most stereotypes foreigners generate about German people are positive. First and foremost, it shows that contemporary foreign students do not have any appearance-related stereotypes about German people (Nikitina, Don and Loh 169). It might be assumed that this phenomenon is explained by the changes in the general socio-political environment. Second, the research reveals that the positive character-related stereotypes such as “punctuality,” “intelligence,” and “industriousness” remain rather popular (Nikitina, Don and Loh 169). Now that these stereotypes have not lost their value despite the significant changes in the social and political environment, it seems to be irrational to disagree with them.
The contemporary study also provides some insights into the understanding of stereotypes related to the country rather than to its inhabitants. From this perspective, it seems that the image of Germany is as positive as that of its people. As such, foreign students characterize Germany as a “prosperous” and “technologically advanced” country Meanwhile, the researchers point to the important detail that determines such choice of characteristics – students explain that they believe Germany to be prosperous and technologically advanced due to the developed car industry that this country has managed to establish (Nikitina, Don and Loh 170). In this view, it might be suggested that this stereotype offers an excessively simplified perception of the country’s economic advantages since it overlooks its success in other market segments.
Apart from positive stereotypes, there are also those that are either ambiguous or evidently negative. Thus, for instance, research reveals that many foreign students believe that Germans are “heavy drinkers” (Nikitina, Don and Loh 166). The appearance of this stereotype has been driven by the famous Oktoberfest festival that is annually held in the city of Munich. It appears to be rather disappointing that a large-scale cultural event reflects the rich history and traditions of the country has become the trigger for the appearance of a distorted image of the German people. The stereotype is evidently irrational and has offensive connotations.
Finally, the major negative stereotype that is present in the modern society is associated with the German history. The contemporary research reveals that the major part of foreign students tends to evaluate the historical past of the country negatively. They explain it by the fact that its historical past is mainly associated with the World War II as well as the Nazi movement (Nikitina, Don and Loh 169). The appearance of this stereotype is easily explicable since the World War II stands out among other historical events. In the meantime, it might be suggested that it is unfair and unjustified to identify a country’s history with one particular negative point overlooking other historical events and phenomena such as Vikings, for instance. It might be assumed that this stereotype will naturally disappear in the course of the years when the memories of the terrible events of the War will have to give place to some positive experience that the German people will manage to gain and demonstrate to the rest of the world.
In conclusion, it is necessary to note that stereotypes, no matter how ungrounded they might appear at first sight, provide a good idea of the nation’s traditions and historical experience. This idea might be excessively simplified and not very accurate. Meanwhile, it is a concise summary of the major milestones that a particular nation has managed to overcome. In this view, the analysis of the stereotypes associated with Germany and the German people shows that, in most of the aspects, the country is evaluated positively. It might be suggested that the globalization processes will help to destroy those negative stereotypes that are wrongfully associated with Germans.
- Nikitina, Larisa, Zuraidah Binti Mohd Don, and Sau Cheong Loh. “’Great Technology, Football and…’: Malaysian Language Learners’ Stereotypes about Germany.” Pandaemonium Germanicum 17.24 (2014): 154-174. Print.
