Endorsement of a stereotype is unnecessary for it to impair performance

Evidence

Stereotype threat is a psychological predicament that occurs when people are aware of the negative stereotypes that others hold of their social group and are anxious that they may confirm them, either in their own or others’ eyes. This anxiety, in turn, may interfere with their performance. It is not necessary that a person endorse the stereotype for stereotype threat to occur, or for it to impair performance. Importantly, stereotype threat is a situation-specific predicament, rather than a personality trait. It is experienced only in situations where a negative stereotype is relevant. Thus, a member of a minority group may perform badly on an intelligence test when stereotypes are salient, but not when stereotypes are not (see Steele et al., 2002, for a review). — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 938 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Self-fulfilling stereotype accuracy is specious, not genuinely valid; Awareness of a stereotype, not belief in it, impairs performance — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 938; Stereotype threat distorts workplace feedback and promotion decisions, harming both targets and providers — Joseph Avery, Jim Sidanius, Joel Cooper, Gregory Davis, Amanda N., Bias in the Law: A Definitive Look at…, 1410

Broader Connections

• Awareness of a stereotype, not belief in it, impairs performance #corroborates (0.95) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 938