When tests were described as measuring intelligence, Hispanic students performed more poorly than white students; children from a low socioeconomic background performed more poorly than students from higher socioeconomic backgrounds; and social science majors scored lower than natural science majors. These examples all illustrate:
A) neurotypical threat.
B) stereotype threat.
C) neurotypical lift.
D) stereotype lift.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

These examples illustrate stereotype threat, which refers to the phenomenon where individuals perform worse on a task because of the fear of confirming a negative stereotype about their group. In the described scenarios, the negative stereotypes were about the intelligence of Hispanic students, the lower socioeconomic status of certain students, and the perceived inferiority of social science majors compared to natural science majors. The fear of confirming these stereotypes may have contributed to the lower performance of these groups on the tests described.

When Tests Were Described as Measuring Intelligence, Hispanic Students Performed