The present study examined the consensual stereotype of an extraordinarily heterogeneous social group, international students who are sojourning in the United States, among American host nationals. The content and valence of the cultural stereotype was assessed using a multicomponent, free-response methodology with N = 100 American college students. On the whole, consensual and individual Stereotypie representations of international students were somewhat favorable, although a number of negative attributes were consistently ascribed to the group. The percentages of agreement among participants concerning the attributes of foreign students were substantial, indicating that international students are regarded as a fairly homogenous outgroup by domestic students, notwithstanding the extreme heterogeneity of the foreign student population. Individual Stereotypie beliefs about international students were significantly correlated with overall attitudes and behaviors (social contact) toward the group. The negative evaluative content of participants' individual Stereotypie beliefs was strongly related to prejudicial attitudes and social avoidance of the group. © 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.

International students Stereotyped attitudes Social adjustment Cross cultural communication Cross cultural differences Racial and ethnic attitudes Social perception Foreign students Language attitudes Acculturation

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