Stereotype Threat

Stereotype threat is the fear of confirming or of being judged according to a negative stereotype about one’s group. This fear is theorized to create extra pressure that depletes cognitive resources needed for successful performance. Stereotype threat theory focuses on situational influences, beyond lack of skill or preparation, that hamper performance in a stereotyped domain. For example, a woman who is made aware of the stereotype that women don’t do as well on math tests compared to men will perform more poorly on a difficult math test than a woman who is not reminded of the stereotype. Stereotype threat has received considerable attention in the research literature and in the media because it shows that social psychological processes play a significant role in the underperformance ...