Zoë,an attractive blond,is concerned that she might say something foolish in her college algebra class,thereby confirming the stereotype of the "dumb blond." As a result,Zoë rarely volunteers to solve problems on the board during class.This behavior can best be explained by ________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Zoë's behavior is consistent with stereotype threat, which is the fear of confirming a negative stereotype about one's gender, race, or other identity group. In this case, the stereotype is that blondes are not intelligent, and Zoë is afraid of confirming this stereotype by making a mistake in class. This fear can lead to underperformance and a lack of confidence.

Zoë,an Attractive Blond,is Concerned That She Might Say Something Foolish