Stereotype Vulnerability

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Stereotype Vulnerability
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Significance

• It is important for us to know our strengths and
  weaknesses.
• This informs our decisions to work hard, choose
  careers, attempt certain tasks, etc.

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Standing in the way of self-knowledge

• Attributional ambiguity
• Is my performance due to me?
• Is my performance the result of the influence of
  a negative stereotype about my group?

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Stereotype Vulnerably

• the tendency to expect, perceive, and be
  influenced by negative stereotypes about ones
  social category.
• Impairs self knowledge by
• 1) causing individuals to mistrust feedback on
  stereotype-relevant domains (e.g., academic).
• 2) Stereotype threat apprehension experienced
  while performing a task for which ones group is
  assumed to lack ability.
• increases anxiety, decreases confidence, and
  increases uncertainty.

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So, hypotheses were

• SV would
• Decrease accuracy in predicting self performance.
• Increase variability in academic confidence
  (based on what happened last, not a global and
  stable assessment).

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Study 1

• Measures AAs vulnerability using the RS-Race
  scale
• Recruited AA and WA students
• Everyone took a test, and rated their confidence
  in their answer to each test item.
• 3 groups SVAA, notVAA, WA

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Results

• For AAs, performance decreased with SV, but
  performance estimates actually increased
  (indicating miscalibration).
• SVAAs more miscalibrated overall, relative to AAs
  and WAs.

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Study 2

• Tested the hypothesis that SV can lead to
  unstable self-efficacy.
• Measured efficacy for academics, athletics, and
  measures Self-esteem (2x a day for 8 days).

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Results 2

• As SV increased among AA students, the
  instability was found in their academic efficacy
  (but not athletic or SE). WHY?
• SVAA had more unstable academic efficacy relative
  to both normal AAs and WAs.
• SVAA had more extreme reports of academic
  efficacy relative to both normal AAs and WAs.
  (higher highs and lower lows)

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Bottom Line

• SVAAs are less in tune with the quality of their
  performance.
• SVAAs have a highly variable academic
  self-confidence.
• Some implications, do better after positive
  feedback, worse after negative feedback.