The 21st century has brought with it unparalleled levels of diversity in the classroom and the workforce. It is now common to see in elementary school, high school, and university classrooms, not to mention boardrooms and factory floors, a mixture of ethnicities, races, genders, and religious affiliations. But these changes in academic and economic opportunities have not directly translated into an elimination of group disparities in academic performance, career opportunities, and levels of advancement. Standard explanations for these disparities, which are vehemently debated in the scientific community and popular press, range from the view that women and minorities are genetically endowed with inferior abilities to the view that members of these demographic groups are products of environments that frustrate the development of the skills needed for success. Although these explanations differ along a continuum of nature vs. nurture, they share in common a presumption that a large chunk of our population lacks the potential to achieve academic and career success.In contrast to intractable factors like biology or upbringing, the research summarized in this book suggests that factors in one's immediate situation play a critical yet underappreciated role in temporarily suppressing the intellectual performance of women and minorities, creating an illusion of group differences in ability. Research conducted over the course of the last fifteen years suggests the mere existence of cultural stereotypes that assert the intellectual inferiority of these groups creates a threatening intellectual environment for stigmatized individuals - a climate where anything they say or do is interpreted through the lens of low expectations. This stereotype threat can ultimately interfere with intellectual functioning and academic engagement, setting the stage for later differences in educational attainment, career choice, and job advancement.

The acclaimed social psychologist offers an insider’s look at his research and groundbreaking findings on stereotypes and identity. Claude M. Steele, who has been called “one of the few great social psychologists,” offers a vivid first-person account of the research that supports his groundbreaking conclusions on stereotypes and identity. He sheds new light on American social phenomena from racial and gender gaps in test scores to the belief in the superior athletic prowess of black men, and lays out a plan for mitigating these “stereotype threats” and reshaping American identities.

Emotional intelligence is an important trait for success at work. IQ tests are biased against minorities. Every child is gifted. Preschool makes children smarter. Western understandings of intelligence are inappropriate for other cultures. These are some of the statements about intelligence that are common in the media and in popular culture. But none of them are true. In the Know is a tour of the most common incorrect beliefs about intelligence and IQ. Written in a fantastically engaging way, each chapter is dedicated to correcting a misconception and explains the real science behind intelligence. Controversies related to IQ will wither away in the face of the facts, leaving readers with a clear understanding about the truth of intelligence.

An examination of the first year of college and the intersecting challenges facing today's students, written by top educational researchers.

Social Neuroscience provides an updated and critically important survey of contemporary social neuroscience research. In response to recent advances in the field, this book speaks to the various ways that basic biological functions shape and underlie social behavior. The book also shows how an understanding of neuroscience, physiology, genetics, and endocrinology can foster a fuller, more consilient understanding of social behavior and of the person. These collected chapters cover traditional and contemporary social psychology topics that have received conceptual and empirical attention from social neuroscience approaches. While the focus of the chapters is demonstrating how social neuroscience methods contribute to understanding social psychological topics, they also cover a wide range of social neuroscience methods, including hormones, functional magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography, event-related brain potentials, cardiovascular responses, and genetics.

A fresh, engaging account of a young woman's journey, first to find a cure for a lifelong struggle with stuttering, and ultimately to embrace the voice that has defined her character. It offers a fresh perspective on the obsession with physical perfection.

Oxford Library Of Psychology --

The Routledge International Handbook of Gender Beliefs, Stereotype Threat, and Teacher Expectations presents, for the first time, the work of leading researchers exploring the synergies and interrelationships between these fields, and provides a catalytic platform for advancing theory, practice, policy and research from an integrated perspective. An understanding of how gender beliefs, stereotype threat, and teacher expectations interrelate is vital to creating safe, equitable, and encouraging learning spaces. The collection summarises how gender beliefs, stereotype threat, and teacher expectations act in association to influence gendered student achievement, engagement, and self-beliefs, and suggests ways toward rectifying their negative effects. The chapters are organised into four sections: Gender Beliefs, Identity, Stereotypes, and Student Futures Stereotype Threat Teacher Expectations Synergies and Solutions By examining synergies and solutions shared between the three fields, this book creates more meaningful, consistent, and permanent approaches to achieving gender identity safety, gendered scholastic equity, well-being, and positive futures for students. This comprehensive publication brings together cutting-edge research at the intersection of gender beliefs, stereotype threat, and teacher expectations. It is an essential reference for researchers and postgraduate students in education and gender studies as well as educational, social, and developmental psychology.

An anthology of poetry and music is where a family, that hustles for a living - within a culture of poverty, finds themselves faced with stereotypes and the threat that dictates responses and influences performance. Our current social makeup is a reflection of the diverse and interconnected world we live in. We are witnessing a shift towards more inclusive and accepting societies, but there is still our history. A history that has allowed the formation of institutions that perpetuate a hierarchy of privilege and oppression. There are those who are afforded systemic advantages and privileges that are denied to others. Uncle Josie, and his kind, live in a world with shrinking borders and different rules. Stereotype Threat affects them in different ways than the rest of us. We wrestle for identity and upward mobility. As we try to navigate through the Institution of Whiteness, Uncle Josie thumbs his nose at the notion.

Prejudice: The Target's Perspective turns the tables on the way prejudice has been looked at in the past. Almost all of the current information on prejudice focuses on the person holding prejudiced beliefs. This book, however, provides the first summary of research focusing on the intended victims of prejudice. Divided into three sections, the first part discusses how people identify prejudice, what types of prejudice they encounter, and how people react to this prejudice in interpersonal and intergroup settings. The second section discusses the effect of prejudice on task performance, assessment of ones own abilities, self-esteem, and stress. The final section examines how people cope with prejudice, including a discussion of coping mechanisms, reporting sexual harassment, and how identity is related to effective coping. - Includes an introduction, the consequences of prejudice, and how to cope with prejudice - The editors are top researchers in the field of prejudice - All the contributors are major figures in the social psychological analysis of intergroup relationships