THE EFFECTS OF STEREOTYPE CONSISTENCY AND CONSENSUS INFORMATION ON PREDICTIONS OF PERFORMANCE

The effects of gender stereotypes and consensus information on predict ions of task performance were examined. We hypothesized that stereotyp e-consistent behavior would result in stronger predictions of future s imilar behavior than stereotype-inconsistent behavior would, and that consensus information would influence predictions only when behavior w as stereotype-inconsistent. American undergraduates watched videotapes of female or male targets succeeding or failing at a task, followed b y consensus information from a same-gender or other-gender consensus p rovider. The results indicated that stereotypes influenced predictions for males but not for females, whereas the reverse was true for conse nsus information. In particular, predictions of future success were hi gher for successful males than for successful females. Low consensus f or success undermined predictions of future success for females but no t for males.