Consequences of stereotyping about Poles in Lithuania

The article presents the problems to the stereotypical perception of the post-war history of Polish minority in Lithuania. Some Lithuanian researchers recognize that studies on the history of Poles in Lithuania were conducted mostly through the prism of the interests of the Lithuanian ethnic majority. This trend is beginning to change and the number of objective studies of Lithuanian historians and anthropologists is growing. At present Lithuanian researchers, dealing with the issues of ethnicity, emphasize that the claim of a conflict-free coexistence of various national groups in communist countries was a myth. In the era of market reforms and democracy, tensions and conflicts related to ethnic minorities were revealed and the importance of ethnic conflicts in the era of postmodernity is stressed. Stereotypes have an impact on public opinion. The danger stems from the fact that the response is not related to the real situation, but to the image of the situation that has been fixed in stereotypical terms. Ethnicity is always emotionally marked and promotes the realization of their own interests by both parties to the conflict, Poles in Lithuania and Lithuanians. It is important to realize the existence of stereotypes and to create the mechanisms to overcome them. Stereotypes form the basis of ethnic consciousness and are an integral part of culture, however their durability is relative. When the historical conditions and specific experiences of individuals change, stereotypes may vary as well. The Lithuanian students who were learning the Polish language and spent some time in Poland changed the negative perception of Polish culture into positive