This experiment examined the effect of stereotype threat
on arterial blood pressure. Black and White
undergraduates were asked to complete a test supposedly
designed to assess intelligence under one of two
conditions. In one condition, a White professor
discussed the debate regarding racial bias in
standardized tests and indicated that the test items
here were part of an attempt to develop a new
intelligence test (stereotype threat for Blacks). In a second condition, a
Black
professor also discussed racial bias in testing but
indicated that the items were from a test that had
already been shown to be culturally unbiased (control). Black students in the condition designed to
increase stereotype threat showed significantly elevated
blood pressure, and the increase in blood pressure
persisting up to 20 minutes beyond the testing session.
These results show that physiological arousal is one
consequence of stereotype threat and they are suggestive that
repeated exposure to stereotype threat might contribute
to the documented higher incidence of hypertension in
the African-American community.
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