Stereotype threat

11/3/2011: I’m no psychology professor but Claude Steele is, and he has done some fascinating work on “stereotype threat”. The classic experiment is to tell women everyone knows women are bad at math, just before they take a math quiz. They do worse. It works in reverse too. Or so I’m told. He’s speaking today on campus, courtesy of CODAC:

The Center on Diversity and Community is turning 10 and it¹s time to celebrate! To mark the occasion we have  organized a series of special events and talks throughout the academic year,  all guided by the theme of “Unscripting Diversity: Celebrating 10 years of  Engaging Challenge, Building Community.” Our inaugural event takes place on Thursday November 3 at 4:00pm (EMU Ballroom) with a  keynote address by esteemed social psychologist, Dr. Claude Steele, author of  the book, ‘Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do.’