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In this text, Walter Lippmann, essayist and columnist, explores the question of the formation of stereotypes in the minds of individuals. He examines the role of perceptions, prejudices, and past experiences in the creation of these stereotypes as well as their importance in the formation of public opinion by American citizens in the aftermath of the First World War. Stereotypes presented here as mental shortcuts allowing citizens to understand the world around them and better understand its complexity. These simplified images, confronted with the reality of events, can also be updated and lead individuals to revise their judgment as well as their understanding of events.