This thesis is about stereotype threat effect (Steele & Aronson, 1995), which is definedas the fear one feels when one risks confirming the negative stereotypes associated with one’sgroup. This fear, in return, may lead one to involuntarily confirm the negative stereotypes byone’s behavior or performance. Three goals have guided this thesis work: (1) we propose toexamine self-construal’s moderator role (i.e., seing oneself as an individual or as a groupmember) on stereotype threat negative effects. (2) We suggest to take into account the recentdistinction between self stereotype-threat (i.e., the fear of confirming the negative stereotype foroneself) and group stereotype-threat (i.e., the fear of being a bad ambassador of one’s group;Shapiro & Neuberg, 2007 ; Wout, Jackson, Spencer, & Danso, 2008) and to examine theireffects on performance. These two objectives were examined in four experiments amongwomen and the stereotype of mathematics incompetence (results are presented in the first partof this manuscript). Main results show that interdependent self-construal activation has moredetrimental effects on performance and emotional state (i.e., anxiety) than independent selfconstrualactivation. The third (3) goal of this thesis is to extend stereotype threat effectsresearch to a stigmatized group which wasn’t studied yet in France. We chose Blacks of Franceand we run four studies among this group (results are presented in the second part of thismanuscript). Main results show that Blacks of France are associated with negative stereotypes(e.g., intellectual incompetence) which have negative effects among members of this group (e.g.,on performance, everyday behavior).
