Anticipation of Discrimination and Its Effects on Cognitive and Emotional Functioning
When people are treated unfairly based on their identity or personal characteristics, it can cause stress and anxiety, which may lead to changes in cognitive and emotional functioning. This is known as stereotype threat, and it can be particularly severe for individuals who identify with marginalized groups. Stereotypes about women, racial minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other groups are pervasive in society, creating an expectation that these individuals will face discrimination in various contexts. Studies have shown that this anticipated discrimination can affect memory, attention, motivation, decision-making, emotion regulation, and even physical health outcomes. In this article, I will explore how the anticipation of discrimination influences cognitive and emotional functioning.
Stereotype threat occurs when someone feels they will be judged negatively because of their group membership.
If a woman enters a traditionally male-dominated field such as engineering, she might feel pressure to prove herself and perform well despite stereotypes that suggest women are not good at math or science. The anticipation of this negative evaluation can create anxiety, leading to decreased performance and confidence. Research has found that women's math performance declines significantly under stereotype threat conditions compared to those without it. Similarly, black students who expect to experience prejudice during a standardized test show more anxiety and lower test scores than white students who do not expect it.
Effects on Cognitive Functioning
The anticipation of discrimination can also impact cognitive functioning by altering brain activity. One study showed that when black participants were told they would be asked to identify faces quickly, but then saw faces of African Americans followed by faces of whites, their brains had different activation patterns than when they simply identified faces. This suggests that anticipating discrimination primes certain neural pathways, potentially interfering with cognitive processes. Other research shows that individuals from stigmatized groups may allocate more resources to monitoring for threats, which can impair their attention and working memory.
Emotional Consequences
In addition to affecting cognitive functioning, the anticipation of discrimination can lead to negative emotions like stress, anxiety, and depression. These feelings can manifest physically in symptoms like elevated heart rate, muscle tension, and fatigue. They can also contribute to long-term health problems, including increased risk of cardiovascular disease and poorer overall wellbeing.
Experiencing discrimination itself is traumatic and damaging to self-esteem, making the anticipation of future discrimination even more difficult to cope with.
Mitigating Stereotype Threat
To counteract stereotype threat, educators and employers can implement strategies such as affirmative action policies, inclusive language, and diversity training. Individuals can also practice mindfulness techniques or seek support from peers who share similar identities.
Reducing stereotypes and prejudice requires systemic change at all levels of society, from schools and workplaces to government and media institutions. By recognizing the impact of stereotypical messages and actively challenging them, we can create a world where everyone feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential without fear of discrimination.
How does the anticipation of discrimination influence cognitive and emotional functioning?
The anticipation of discrimination can have negative effects on cognitive and emotional functioning due to its potential to lead to increased anxiety, stress, and negative affect (e. g. , sadness, fear). This is because when individuals perceive that they will be treated unfairly based on their social group membership, they may become more vigilant for signs of threat, which can interfere with their ability to focus on other tasks at hand and negatively impact their memory.