Local stereotypes about the inhabitants of Hrastnik, Trbovlje, and Zagorje ob Savi are emerging in the Zasavje region and are mostly a result of historical and cultural factors. The region's mining history, related to work values and progress, strongly influences the creation of (auto) stereotypes, it should not be disregarded that there could be a grain of truth in them too. The existing stereotypes are heterogeneous due to the differences between each place, but they also emerge as a result of competition between otherwise similar places in need of positive self-perception. The key factor in the creation, perpetuation and change of stereotypes is the contact between the inhabitants of the three cities (i.e., between members of different groups), which simultaneously regulates their production and reinforcement. Based on the relationship dynamics between the inhabitants of Hrastnik, Trbovlje, and Zagorje ob Savi, enhanced by contacts in joint activities, the creation of local stereotypes about the inhabitants of the Zasavje region can be traced back to the middle of the 20th century. This is also confirmed by the fact that the stereotypes present in older generations are created among peers, while those in younger generations stem from the family environment. This bachelor’s thesis is a cultural study on local stereotypes and auto stereotypes about the inhabitants of the Zasavje region with an emphasis on the cultural, historical, and socio-economic factors that influence their creation and perception. This thesis is supported by a secondary source analysis, a survey, and focus groups.
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