Stereotype threat

Stereotype Threat Theory (STT) is one of the most influential theories of task (under)performance developed and tested over the past 25 years. It explains how and why highly capable individuals may underperform in stressful situations. Specifically, STT examines the role of social stereotypes in unconsciously disrupting concentration, specifically for members of historically excluded groups (e.g., women, people of color) who contend daily with negative group stereotypes. Though early STT studies focused on chronic differences in standardized test performance, more recently, STT research spotlights how cues in the social environment (i.e., the workplace) can negatively affect managers and employees. Thus, STT provides a social-psychological explanation for differences in performance, motivation, and belonging for high-potential individuals, many of whom work in counterstereotypical careers (i.e., women in STEM).