But researchers who study the unfolding course of human lives have learned to distrust such popular stereotypes.

Despite the rather weak research literature on differences in behaviours between people from different countries, most of the findings do support popular stereotypes.

Current evidence indicates that older people are more healthy than popular stereotypes suggest.

Perhaps the most popular stereotype of Americans is that of economic materialism.

Compactly built and never particularly good at sports, she fit into no popular stereotypes of a dancer.

"Instances such as these match popular stereotypes that all old people are 'demented' and in poor health," they wrote.

Contrary to popular stereotypes, people in this remote community have a low unemployment rate.

That might dispel one popular stereotype about football heroes from small towns.

Contrary to popular stereotypes, however, the majority of feminists are not lesbians.

The emerging story goes against the grain of popular stereotypes.