Question

1. What is a Stereotype threat ? 2. Give an example from personal experience of Stereotype Threat. (Paragraph)

Answer 1

Background

Stereotype: Psychological theory states that people have a certain perception about other people or society. They may have different presumptions about the cognitive thought and behavioral personality of a group of people. By Machiavelli’s theory, humans display negative behavior towards the environment and surroundings. We can associate this theory with stereotypes because people form negative perceptions of society and the environment.

For example, Shawn is a college student, and he is attending psychology class. He and his friends often tease and bully Jack, who is also a student of psychology. We can see that Shawn and Shawn's friends are stereotypes because they judge and form opinions from the person’s personality traits.

Key points:

Stereotype threats: People make judgments and opinions about a certain group of people or someone in the public or private environment. They pose harm to the people in the following ways:

1. Mental abuse
2. Torture
3. Trauma
4. Stress
5. Making the person feel humiliated

Analysis

Causes of stereotype threats: Social media and digital platforms affect our thought behavior and attitudes. People using these means often form judgements and opinions about a certain group of people. Photographs and news affect how we feel and think about different events or situations. People attack others in the social environment because of

1. Low self-esteem
2. Lack of confidence
3. Low self-respect
4. Pride, egoistic and ignorant
5. Narcissistic behavior

Example of stereotype threat: during school, I attended a laboratory session with a group of students. We were new students who took admissions in that season. During the session, 4 people from the group started to judge people by calling names and forming opinions about personality defects.

It surprised me to hear how these people form judgments and stereotypical comments without knowing the class personally. The other students were feeling harassed, humiliated and scared about the comments from the stereotypical group. This event is an example of a stereotype threat because the other students are prone to risk from the specific group of students targeting their behavior and personality traits.

Conclusion: We have discussed a stereotypical threat and a personal experience of the threat.