The Effects of Stereotype Threat on State Levels of Stigma Consciousness and Overall Performance on a Stereotype-Relevant Task

Situational anxiety surrounding performance has been shown to adversely impact task performance by members of negatively stereotyped groups, creating a stereotype threat effect. This study tested the hypothesis that the anticipation of being stereotyped, known as stigma consciousness, is one of many contributing factors to the expression of stereotype threat effects. One area in which stereotype threat has been shown to exist is in the domain of mathematics, with females being negatively stereotyped in the subject and often underperforming relative to males. In this study, male and female participants were presented with a stereotype prime manipulation and then asked to complete a mathematical assessment and the Stigma Consciousness questionnaire. Results failed to replicate past research or lend support to the primary hypothesis. Limitations of the study as well as future directions are discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Experimental Psychology (M.S.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis (open access)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Department of Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2011

Author dc:creator

• Blount-Nuss, Gwenith

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kent Bodily
• Janice N. Steirn

• ETD
• Stereotype
• Stereotype threat
• Stigma consciousness
• Math performance

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/440

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu:etd-1440