Stereotype threat is a situational predicament in which people are at risk of confirming negative stereotypes about their social group, affecting performance.

• A. Self-fulfilling prophecy
• B. Stereotype threat
• C. Social loafing
• D. Confirmation bias

Answer: (B)

Stereotype threat is the situation where people from a stigmatized group fear that their performance will confirm negative stereotypes about their group, and this fear can actually undermine performance on the task. The description given matches this exactly: the focus is on the risk of confirming a stereotype in a challenging situation, which can consume attention and increase anxiety, leading to poorer outcomes even when ability is the same. This phenomenon is distinct from a self-fulfilling prophecy in general, which is about beliefs shaping behavior to bring about a predicted outcome, whereas stereotype threat specifically centers on the pressure tied to identity and negative stereotypes in a performance context. It also differs from social loafing, which involves reduced effort in group settings, and confirmation bias, which is the tendency to seek information that supports preconceptions.