A Review of Acceptant Responses to Stereotype Threat: Performance Expectations and Self-Handicapping Strategies

Abstract

Many minority group members underperform when negative performance related stereotypes about their group are salient. This provisional predicament can be explained by Stereotype Threat which assumes that performance decrements after negative stereotype prime is sourced from the reactions of individuals not conrming the stereotype. However, the results occur in line with the primed stereotype inspite of the effort of individuals. This paper offers another explanation on how evoked negative performance stereotypes affect individuals. Specically, it is proposed that stereotype evoked individuals might also accept those posed negative stereotypes with the mediating roles of performance expectations and self-handicapping strategies rather than reacting to them. For that purpose, the current paper will put forward a general review of Stereotype Threat, evidence for acceptant variables, and possible limitations of offered explanation.

Keywords

• Stereotype Threat
• Performance Expectations
• Self-Handicapping
• Mediating Variables
• Review