Karin and her mother live on welfare in a poor, inner-city neighborhood in Detroit. Karin is quite bright and highly motivated, and she really wants to get a college education. However, she knows that, on average, students from low-income homes perform more poorly on the SAT tests than students from wealthier homes. When she takes the SAT, she is so nervous that she has trouble concentrating on the test items, and as a result her scores are lower than they should be. Which of the following concepts best explains what has happened to Karin?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Karin is experiencing stereotype threat, which is the fear that one's behavior will confirm an existing stereotype about their group. In this case, the stereotype is that students from low-income homes perform poorly on the SATs. This fear can lead to anxiety and decreased performance, as seen in Karin's case.

Karin and Her Mother Live on Welfare in a Poor