Kirsten is experiencing a great deal of anxiety about her first Algebra II test. "I know that Mr. Dade has a reputation for bein
g tough, and everyone thinks that girls are no good in math. I'll do terrible, and he'll think, 'Sure, she's a girl; she can't do math.' I can hardly breathe." Kirsten is experiencing:
Stereotype refers to preconceived perspective about a particular people or group. Stereotype threat, coined by Claude Steele and Joshua Aronson, refers to a way a person behaves that tend to confirms the negative stereotype about a particular race, gender and others. In Kristen's case the added stress generated by her anxiety about the Algebra II test as a result of the supposedly tough teacher coupled with the preconceived notion that girls are not good in math may lead to her actually failing the test or performing badly. If this feeling were to be removed she may not actually fail or perform poorly in the exam.
