When positive stereotypes threaten intellectual performance: The psychological hazards of "model minority" status

Asian-American women's performance on a test of quantitative skill was stud ied as a function of whether their Asian, female, or individual identity wa s salient at the time of testing. In previous research, ethnicity salience was found to result in enhanced math performance among Asian women. However , the investigators relied on a subtle manipulation of ethnicity salience t hat likely did not invoke concerns about group reputation nor make salient the common cultural stereotypes concerning Asians, mathematical prowess. We induced a focus on ethnic identity in a manner that was likely to make oth er people's high performance expectations more salient. Under these conditi ons, ethnicity salience resulted in diminished ability tp concentrate, whic h in turn led to significantly impaired math performance. Thus, although pe ople commonly hold positive stereotypes about Asians' mathematical skills, making these stereotypes salient prior to performance can create the potent ial for "choking" under the pressure of high expectations.