The anxiety felt when one risks confirming a negative stereotype about their group which can suppress performance on tests.

• A. Flynn Effect
• B. Stereotype Threat
• C. Achievement Test
• D. Aptitude Test

Answer: (B)

Stereotype threat is the anxiety that arises when a person fears that performing on a test could confirm a negative stereotype about their group. That worry can drain cognitive resources—especially working memory and attention—making it harder to solve problems and perform at one's best even when the person has the underlying ability. This effect is most evident in evaluative testing situations where identity and stereotypes feel salient, leading to suppressed performance. The concept has been shown in experiments where highlighting a stereotype or increasing identity salience lowers performance, while neutral or supportive framing can lessen the impact. The other options don’t describe this social-psychological pressure: the Flynn Effect refers to generational increases in IQ scores, an achievement test measures learned knowledge, and an aptitude test gauges potential rather than the influence of stereotype-related anxiety on performance.