How do people typically deal with information that contradicts their stereotypes?

When encountering information that contradicts their stereotypes, individuals often take in this new evidence but still strive to maintain their pre-existing beliefs. This process is known as "blending" the new evidence into an existing stereotype. Rather than completely discarding the old stereotype or fully accepting the new information, individuals try to reconcile the discrepancy by making adjustments that allow them to preserve the overarching framework of their beliefs.

For example, if someone holds a stereotype about a particular group and then encounters a person from that group who does not fit the stereotype, they might incorporate this new experience into a modified version of the stereotype. This allows them to maintain their beliefs while acknowledging some exceptions, thus preserving cognitive consistency.

The other options do not capture this tendency as accurately. Changing the original stereotype would be too drastic for most people, while disregarding the new information overlooks the natural human tendency to engage with new data, albeit in a limited way. Significating the new evidence suggests giving it excessive weight and importance, which doesn't align with the common tendency to protect existing stereotypes.