PSYC12H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Standardized Test, Ingroups And Outgroups, Stereotype Threat
Document Summary
Chapter 2: the role of situational cues in signaling and maintaining stereotype threat. Focuses on how stereotype threat is produced and sustained through threatening situational cues in the environment organization, features & physical characteristics that suggest the possible mistreatment and devaluation of stigmatized individuals. The meaning people assign to those cues affects whether they will be vulnerable or protected against stereotype threat. The initial aim of stereotype threat research was to examine those factors suppressing the intellectual performance of black students and women in math, science and engineering. Steele and colleagues = began to investigate whether contending with negative stereotypes, themselves, might be restricting the academic performance of these groups. Causes of these groups differences in academic performance theorizing that the causes might be attributed to features of the situation. When situational cues in a setting make a stereotype salient and relevant to one"s actions, the resulting psychological pressure to disprove the stereotype might depress academic performance.
