Stereotype Threat: An Examination of How Stereotypes Can Impede the Performance of Our Students (Event Flyer)
[Presentation Slides (pdf)]
[Video Recording of Presentation]

The fear of being judged through the lens of a negative stereotype can contribute to a significantly weaker academic performance of our students based on their race, gender, or other traits -- even when faculty are not directly invoking stereotypes. In this talk, I will present an overview of the surprising phenomenon of "stereotype threat" and the unusual ways in which it may manifest itself, in a variety of fields and activities. Understanding this phenomenon will allow us to become better teachers and to bring out the best in our students. Additionally, I will explore theoretical and empirical work detailing potential mechanisms underlying the stereotype threat phenomenon and discuss newer research, indicating the idea that stereotype threat may be comprised of multiple levels. Finally, I will present some data demonstrating that not every member of a given social category is equally susceptible to threat; I will do this as a way to suggest that there are certain individuals who we should most be aware of in our interventions.

References

• Shapiro, J. R., & Neuberg, S. L. (2007). From stereotype threat to stereotype threats: Implications of a multi-threat framework for causes, moderators, mediators, consequences and interventions. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 11, 107-130.
• Schmader, T., Johns, M., & Forbes, C. (2008). An integrated process model of stereotype threat effects on performance. Psychological Review, 115, 336-356. Steele, C. M., & Aronson, J. (1995).
• Stereotype threat and the intellectual test performance of African Americans. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69, 797-811. Steele, C. M. (1997). A threat in the air: How stereotypes shape intellectual identity and performance. American Psychologist, 52, 613-629.
• http://reducingstereotypethreat.org/

Lunch will be provided, please RSVP to teachers@lmu.edu or call (310) 338-5866.

This event is part of Lily Khadjavi's Faculty Associate project on Increasing Diversity: Addressing Stereotype Threat.

This program will be video and audio taped and may be podcast.  By your willing participation in the program, you expressly and irrevocably consent to be photographed, video taped and/or audio taped and quoted/cited.  The films, tapes, and other digital recordings will become the property of the Center of Teaching Excellence, LMU.