Stereotype threat refers to the pressure that individuals feel when they are at risk of confirming a demeaning stereotype about themselves. Research has found that stereotype threat impairs performance on cognitive-based tasks by inducing mental interference (e.g., Schmader & Johns, 2003). This thesis hypothesised that this finding would generalise to driving and that drivers who are better able to inhibit cognitive interference (i.e., with better inhibitory ability) would be less susceptible to the disruptive effect of stereotype threat than drivers who are less able (i.e., with poorer inhibitory ability). A series of three experiments conducted in a driving simulator tested the predictions using the gender stereotype of driving skills and investigated the interpretation of the results. The experiments revealed that stereotype threat exerted both a facilitative and debilitative influence on driving performance, as indicated by different performance measures. The facilitative effect diminished when drivers experienced increased mental demands or when they were assessed by an unexpected performance measure, while the debilitative effect was more likely observed among drivers who received negative feedback than drivers who received positive feedback. Moreover, the results supported the prediction that inhibitory ability would moderate the detrimental impact of stereotype threat as the performance of drivers with poorer inhibitory ability was impeded more than that of drivers with better inhibitory ability. Regarding the processes underlying the present findings, the experiments provided suggestive evidence that stereotype threat elicits cognitive interference and simultaneously motivates drivers to concentrate on particular performance areas in an attempt to refute the stereotype. In combination, these processes appear to be at least partly responsible for the performance deficits and boosts observed.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2003. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2004. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph.D.). / Written for the Dept. of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2008/07/24). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Sydney, 2003. / Includes tables and questionnaires. Title from title screen (viewed Apr. 29, 2008). Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Faculty of Medicine. Degree awarded 2003; thesis submitted 2002. Includes bibliography. Also available in print form.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of South Florida, 2007. / Title from PDF of title page. Document formatted into pages; contains 202 pages. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, 2007. / "May 2007" Includes bibliographical references (leaves 199-209).

Thesis (D.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1996.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Central Florida, 2009. / Adviser: Mohamed Abdel-Aty. Includes bibliographical references (p. 67-71).