Claude Steele

Claude Steele, a pioneering social psychologist and emeritus professor at Stanford, delves into the impact of stereotype threat on performance. He explains how mere awareness of stereotypes can lead to anxiety and cognitive interference, particularly among marginalized groups. The conversation shifts to self-affirmation as a powerful tool to combat these effects, fostering resilience and growth. They discuss the flaws of high-stakes testing and suggest low-stakes alternatives. Claude emphasizes the importance of acceptance and belonging in mitigating stereotype threats, especially for professional women.

Claude Steele, an emeritus psychology professor at Stanford, is a pioneer in understanding stereotype threat and self-affirmation. He discusses how the anxiety of being stereotyped can hinder performance, particularly among marginalized groups. Steele shares insights from his research on how this threat affects cognitive functions, especially in high-pressure situations like math tests. He advocates for genuine self-affirmation as a tool to combat these effects and emphasizes the significance of societal circumstances alongside individual determination in achieving success.

Stereotypes are all around us, shaping how we see the world – and how the world sees us. On the surface, the stereotypes that other people hold shouldn’t affect the way we think or act. But our concerns about other people’s perceptions have a way of burrowing deep into our minds. This week, social psychologist Claude Steele explains the psychology of “stereotype threat.”