Men and women Quote by David McRaney
““When you fear you will confirm a negative stereotype, it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy not because the stereotype is true, but because you can't stop worrying that you could become an example proving it. This self-fulfilling prophecy, being only a matter of perception, can be easily sublimated. Another study by Steele measured the math abilities of men versus women. When the questions were easy, the women and men performed the same. When they were difficult, the women's scores plummeted lower than did those of their male peers. When they ran the tests again with new participants, but this time before handing out the problems told the subjects that men and women tended to perform equally on the exam, the scores leveled out. The women performed just as well as did the men. The power of the stereotype--women are bad at math--was nullified.””
About This Quote
Source Book: You Are Not So Smart, David McRaney, 2011
Stereotype threat can impair performance, but awareness and framing can neutralize it.
In simple terms: Stereotypes can hurt performance unless you recognize and counter them.
Key Takeaway
Recognize stereotypes, reframe expectations.
Themes
psychology
stereotypes
performance
self‑fulfilling prophecy
Mood
anxious
hopeful
Type
insightful
motivational
When to use this quote
- education testing
- workplace evaluations
- sports competition
- public speaking
Key Concepts
stereotype threat
expectation effects
self‑efficacy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you change your mindset before a high‑stakes task?
- What role does feedback play in breaking stereotypes?
A Different Perspective
If the stereotype is deeply internalized, awareness alone may not suffice.
