Amy is prepared for her math test but underperforms due to reminders of her gender. What concept explains this phenomenon?

The phenomenon described in the question can be explained by the concept of stereotype threat. This theory suggests that individuals may experience anxiety or underperformance in situations where they fear confirming negative stereotypes about their social group. In the case of Amy, her underperformance on the math test is influenced by reminders of her gender, which may invoke a stereotype that suggests women are not as capable in mathematics as men.

When individuals are aware of a stereotype that pertains to their identity, they may become more anxious or distracted, which can hinder their performance. This aligns with the concept of stereotype threat, which has been supported by various studies demonstrating that when individuals are reminded of negative stereotypes before performing tasks, their performance may suffer.

In contrast, an activated gender schema refers to the cognitive framework that encompasses beliefs about gender roles and attributes. While this may influence behavior, the specific impact leading to performance anxiety is more directly related to stereotype threat. Negative gender roles and biological differences between men and women in math ability do not adequately capture the psychological process of performance anxiety triggered by the fear of confirming a stereotype, which is the central focus of stereotype threat.