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Mere effort and stereotype threat performance effects.

Jeremy P Jamieson1, Stephen G Harkins

  • 1Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA. jamieson.jp@gmail.com

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|September 26, 2007
PubMed
Summary
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Stereotype threat impairs performance, but not by consuming working memory. Instead, research suggests stereotype threat enhances motivation, leading to increased effort and potential errors.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Social Psychology

Background:

  • Stereotype threat is known to negatively impact performance.
  • The cognitive mechanisms underlying stereotype threat are not fully understood.
  • Previous theories proposed working memory interference as a primary cause.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the cognitive processes involved in stereotype threat.
  • To differentiate between the working memory interference and mere effort accounts of stereotype threat.
  • To test the validity of the working memory interference hypothesis using the antisaccade task.

Main Methods:

  • Four experiments were conducted utilizing the antisaccade task.
  • The antisaccade task measures the ability to inhibit a prepotent response and execute a volitional saccade.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Performance on the antisaccade task was analyzed under conditions of stereotype threat.

    • Main Results:

    • Results supported the mere effort account of stereotype threat.
    • Evidence did not support the working memory interference account.
    • Stereotype threat appears to increase motivation and effort, rather than deplete cognitive resources.

    Conclusions:

    • Stereotype threat's impact on performance is better explained by increased effort and motivation.
    • The working memory interference model does not adequately explain the observed effects of stereotype threat.
    • Future research should focus on motivational and effort-based explanations for stereotype threat phenomena.