Denise is an excellent math student. However, on the day of a major exam, she overhears classmates saying that girls aren't as good at math as boys. Feeling anxious about this stereotype, Denise underperforms on the test. This situation is an example of

Stereotype threat occurs when someone worries about confirming a negative stereotype about a group they belong to, and that anxiety harms their performance. Denise hears a stereotype about girls and math, feels anxious, and underperforms on the exam. This is stereotype threat, not a self-fulfilling prophecy, which refers more broadly to expectations influencing outcomes.

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