Stereotype threat can lead individuals to reduce their
effort or preparation even though doing so might harm performance, a phenomenon known as "self-handicapping." In Experiment 1, white college students were asked to
complete a task based on golf that was described
either as reflecting "factors correlated with
natural athletic ability" (high stereotype threat) or
"factors correlated with general sports
performance" (low stereotype threat). Before completing
the task, students were allowed to practice as long as
they liked. Students who identified highly
with sports practiced significantly less in the high
threat compared with the low threat condition. Students who
did not identify with sports showed equivalent
levels of practice in the two stereotype threat
conditions. In Experiment 2, White and Hispanic
undergraduates were introduced to the golf task using
the high stereotype threat manipulation from Experiment
1, which was assumed to create stereotype threat for
Whites but not for Hispanics. In fact, Whites showed a
similar effect as in Experiment 1, practicing less when
they identified with sports than when they did not.
Hispanics, in contrast, did not differ in their degree
of practice based on sports identification level. These
results show that one consequence of stereotype threat
can be reduced preparation and effort. It is believed
that such "self-handicapping" can offer psychological
protection by providing an a priori explanation for
failure even while undermining preparation.
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