Keller,
2007(b)
This experiment used
predictions derived from Regulatory Focus Theory (Higgins, 1998) to examine performance under stereotype
threat. Regulatory Focus Theory posits the co-existence of two systems
involved in self-regulation. Whereas the promotion
system is concerned about gain/non-gain and strives to
achieve desired endstates, the prevention system focuses
on loss/non-loss and strives to avoid undesired
endstates. If stereotype threat involves the fear of
confirming undesired stereotypes, then
stereotype
threat should have particularly detrimental effects on
performance when the prevention system is activated and
produce more modest effects under a promotion focus. To
test this hypothesis, male undergraduates were given
strategic instructions to induce a prevention or
promotion focus then completed a verbal task that
"produced gender differences" (stereotype threat) or has
"been shown to not produce gender differences"
(control). Under stereotype threat, performance
was lower for participants using prevention compared
with promotion strategies. There were no effects
of regulatory focus in the control condition. These results suggest that stereotype threat effects are
more likely when individuals are operating with a
prevention rather than a promotion focus of
self-regulation.Back to top | Previous
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