Stanford University

- Social identity threat is a process that occurs when a person’s view of themselves is at threat due to being a member of a group that is marginalized in the context they find themselves in. The context is key as a group may be marginalized in one context but not in another.
- Demographic composition is especially important for marginalized groups as a low number of members of their group can signal social identity threat.
- Schools are a place where social identity threat is likely to emerge, especially if there is a preconceived notion of race and achievement. 
- Social identity threat has been shown to affect students’ performance as seen through stereotype threat (a subset of social identity threat).

Social Identity Threat in Education

Hanselman, P., Bruch, S. K., Gamoran, A., & Borman, G. D. (2014). Threat in Context: School Moderation of the Impact of Social Identity Threat on Racial/Ethnic Achievement Gaps. Sociology of Education, 87(2), 106–124. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038040714525970

Threat in Context: School Moderation of the Impact of Social Identity Threat on Racial/Ethnic Achievement Gaps

Social identity threat’s contribution to racial achievement gaps in schools depends on the context of the school. For high-potential-threat-context schools, the effect of social identity threat is about 12.5%. This means that social identity threat makes up significant portion of the reason for a race achievement gap in high-potential-threat-context schools.

Social Identity Threat and Race Achievement Gap Relationship

Self-affirmation helps with boosting one’s own view of themselves through thinking about what they value most. Self-affirmation interventions help with lessening the effects of social identity threat by buffering against negative perceptions of themselves.

Self-Affirmation

Stereotype threat is the fear that one's performance may confirm a negative stereotype about an identity group. This fear can increase stress, anxiety, distraction, narrowed attention, and self-consciousness, thereby reducing performance. Relevant identities may include gender, ethnicity, age, or profession.

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