the dOuBle-edged sWORd OF negative in-gROup steReOtyping

The present work examined the negative consequences that result when stigmatized individuals endorse negative in-group stereotypes after failure. Study 1 found that women given the opportunity to blame their math failure on the stereotype “women are bad at math” showed higher stereotype endorsement, exerted less effort on a subsequent math test, and displayed less identification with the math domain. Study 2 found that observers’ felt more negative emotions toward a woman who blamed her poor performance on the math stereotype. Furthermore, this effect was fully mediated by changes in perceptions of the woman’s confidence. Together, these findings suggest that people who use negative stereotypes to excuse their failures incur both personal and interpersonal costs.