The name is absent

348

It will be seen that the only positive categories attributed
to Aborigines in general were also cited as most characteristic.
¼ ∙

Thus while the stereotypes were predominantly negative for Aborigines
in general, out of the first five characteristics, there were
three positive characteristics cited as most characteristic of
Aborigines in general.

Trait              Rank order

friendly               2

trustworthy            4

good parents            5      ^,

If we look for points of contrast.between the Aboriginal self
and Aborigines in general we find in the stereotyping that the
Aboriginal self:

does not drink too much

is not often in trouble with police

is not often in debt

does keep jobs

does care for possessions

is not quick tempered

is not aggressive (does not pick fights)
does have ambitions

does have a purpose in life

QCtn be counted on

speaks English well

has a strong sense of right-end wrong

is a good parent

is clean and tidy

On all these items, the negative stereotype of Aborigines was
accepted for the ‘masses’ but rejected for the self.

The distancing of the Aboriginal self from Aborigines in general
may be explained by the fact that all Aborigines interviewed recognised
that there are Aborigines who have had their culture destroyed, who
are in a state of anomie, of identity-diffusion. They are the
•broken ones', the ^,dead∙, falling between the tradition-oriented people and

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