Stereotype Threat
Ambady, Shih, Kim, & Pittinsky, 2001 conducted studies that focused on the emergence of stereotype threat in children. In one experiment, Asian-American girls ranging in age from kindergarten to 8th grade completed tasks that were intended to highlight their Asian identity, their female identity, or neither identity (control). Following this they all completed standard mathematics tests. It was shown that the lower-elementary and middle school girls showed an increase in their test results when their Asian identity was highlighted but a decrease in performance when their female identity was highlighted.