Stereotype Threat Among Black Men Following Exposure to Rap Music. Issue 5 (July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Howard, Simon; Hennes, Erin P.; Sommers, Samuel R.
• Is Part Of: Social psychological & personality science. Volume 12:Issue 5(2021)
• Page Start: 719
• Page End: 730
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Subjects: prejudice/stereotyping -- social identity -- media influence -- stereotypes -- self/identity -- racial identity; Personality -- Periodicals; Social psychology -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 155.2
• DOI: 10.1177/1948550620936852
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1948-5506

Abstract

Stereotype threat theory argues that reminders of negative stereotypes about one's stigmatized identity can undermine performance, but few studies have examined this phenomenon among Black Americans. Drawing from the literature on the impact of mass media on stereotype activation, we examine whether exposure to rap music induces stereotype threat among Black men. In two studies, incidental exposure to violent/misogynistic rap, but not conscious hip-hop or pop music, impaired Black (but not White) men's cognitive performance (Experiments 1 and 2), but only when the artist was ostensibly Black (vs. White; Experiment 2). These effects were conditionally mediated by stereotype activation, such that listening to a Black (but not White) rapper activated negative stereotypes about Black people for both Black and White participants but only impaired performance among Black participants (Experiment 2). This suggests that exposure to some forms of artistic expression may activate culturally shared stereotypes and obstruct academic success among stigmatized groups.