What are the effects of stereotype threat?

Stereotype threat refers to the psychological burden individuals feel when they are at risk of confirming negative stereotypes about their social group. This distress can lead to increased anxiety, which often hampers cognitive functioning and can negatively impact performance on tasks related to the area of the stereotype. For example, if a female student is aware that there is a stereotype suggesting that women perform poorly in math, she may experience anxiety during a math test, which can impair her ability to concentrate and perform at her best, thereby reinforcing the stereotype.

The phenomenon is grounded in social psychology research, demonstrating how awareness of societal expectations and stereotypes can create a self-fulfilling prophecy. In contexts where individuals feel they could confirm a stereotype, the increased pressure and anxiety can detract from their ability to focus on the actual task, resulting in poorer performance outcomes. Thus, the correct understanding of stereotype threat emphasizes the role of anxiety in performance, illustrating how psychological factors can interplay with social perceptions.