Jacob is a male blue collar worker attending a group therapy session. He knows that people from his background are thought of as not being in touch with their feelings and having quick tempers. During the session, he worries about how he will appear, and ends up getting angry and losing his temper as a result of this anxiety. Jacob's case is an example of:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Jacob's behavior is consistent with stereotype threat, which occurs when someone's anxiety and fear of confirming a negative stereotype about their social group causes them to perform poorly or engage in behaviors that confirm the stereotype. Jacob's concern about not appearing in touch with his emotions likely stems from the stereotype that blue collar workers are not emotional, causing him to become angry and lose his temper during the therapy session.

Jacob Is a Male Blue Collar Worker Attending a Group