I think they&#x27;re really talking about scientific stereotypes.<p>It&#x27;s this kind of thinking that starts to give rise to so-called scientific explanations of why certain races are &quot;inferior&quot;.  The average man concept lets you compare races and genders and all sorts in a way that can appear scientific - in method at least - whilst ignoring the fact that there are so many variables to account for in the human condition, that any result must be taken with a lot of skepticism.<p>But people in general, particularly around the time, were astounded by the leaps and bounds that science had been making.  So anything &quot;proven&quot; in a scientific enough manner, must be true.  No skepticism to be found.