Dealing with negative stereotypes in sports: the role of cognitive anxiety when multiple identities are activated in sensorimotor tasks

J Sport Exerc Psychol. 2015 Aug;37(4):379-92. doi: 10.1123/jsep.2014-0284.

Abstract

Based on research on stereotype threat and multiple identities, this work explores the beneficial effects of activating a positive social identity when a negative identity is salient on women's performance in sports. Further, in line with research on the effects of anxiety in sports, we investigate whether the activation of a positive social identity buffers performance from cognitive anxiety associated with a negative stereotype. Two experiments tested these predictions in field settings. Experiment 1 (N = 83) shows that the simultaneous activation of a positive (i.e., member of a soccer team) and a negative social identity (i.e., woman) led to better performance than the activation of only a negative social identity for female soccer players. Experiment 2 (N = 46) demonstrates that identity condition moderated the effect of cognitive anxiety on performance for female basketball players. Results are discussed concerning multiple identities' potential for dealing with stressful situations.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anxiety / psychology*
  • Athletic Performance / psychology*
  • Basketball / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Sexism / psychology*
  • Soccer / psychology*
  • Social Identification*
  • Stereotyping
  • Young Adult