What is stereotype threat, how does it operate, and how might it affect women’s performance on certain cognitive tests? What are some examples of factors that moderate the effects of stereotype threat and describe what can be done to diminish its effects.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Stereotype threat is a feeling of anxiety that people experience when they are at risk of confirming a negative stereotype about a group to which they belong. It may negatively impact women’s performance tests of math performance when stereotypes about women’s math abilities are made salient, producing anxiety. Stereotype threat effects tend to be stronger for subtle reminders than blatant reminders of stereotypes about women’s math aptitude. The effects are also moderated by how strongly women identify with math with women both high and low on math identification being less affected than women who moderately identify with math. Researchers have found that self-affirmation tasks, such as writing about one’s most important values, can diminish the effects of stereotype threat. Reminding women that sex differences in math may result from life experience rather than genes also has been shown to counteract stereotype threat effects.