Stereotyping is defined as an "oversimplified attitude people hold toward those outside one's own experience who are different.” Stereotypes arise as a result of incomplete or distorted information accepted as fact without question. A stereotype is simply a widely held belief that an individual is a member of a certain group based on characteristics. Due to the process of over-generalization within social perception, stereotyping leads to a great deal of inaccuracy in social perception. Sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion and physical ability are various categories which exist in stereotyping. The most prevalent and controversial forms are sex and race. Racial studies have found that descriptions such as Jews are shrewd and ambitious, African-Americans have special musical and athletic ability and Germans are methodical and efficient, are commonly used to label these ethnic groups. Slowly, society has been making a slight transition away from stereotyping. Unfortunately it is a difficult process, especially since we rely on second-hand sources for our information for the majority of our knowledge. The main outlet of second-hand information is the mass media. As a result of depending largely on the second-hand source of mass media, mass media in turn plays a major role in determining the content of our culture. Stereotyping is a product of culture, therefore, mass media have a strong influence in supporting and tearing down stereotypical characteristics.