Perceptions of race and status can both knowingly and unknowingly act to distort an individual’s judgment and actions. Most often, many individuals interpret these perceptions as reality, failing to recognize the numerous ideological influences which have shaped such beliefs. After all, one generally does not reflect upon their own perceptions to consider what institutional ideologies (education, faith organizations/church, family, government, media, etc.) shape their personal perceptions, and in turn, the behaviour. In contrast, social psychologists continually examine human behaviour in an attempt to understand what unseen influences promote specific responses within humans.
With this in mind, I believe some of the claims made during a recent Radiohead Podcast titled Stereothreat regarding Claude Steele and Joshua Aronson’s (1995) theory of stereotype threat, require further examination. Hosts Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, discuss the validity of research supporting the stereotype effect (Steele & Aronson, 1995) using excerpts from past interviews with Professors Claude Steele and Michael Inzlicht, and scientific journalist Dan Engber. In summary, hosts Abumrad and Krulwich position comments made by professor Inzlicht and journalist Engber to questions the validity and replicability of some social-psychological…show more content… Their arguments rests on two key points; 1) Professor Inzlicht’s inability to replicate Steels’ findings when conducting similar research at the University of Toronto, and 2) the
