Stereotype Threat and Self-Perceptions: The Impact on College Students

an ability to update our self-concept based on information from others. In college, students weave together the feedback from grades and test scores, coaches and directors, and friends and loved ones and form a fairly accurate picture of how others see them” (p. 199). Accordingly, college students’ self-perceptions affect their performance positively and negatively both inside and outside of the classroom. The following article is based on the assertions: 1) identity development is important for college students, 2) self-perceptions affect development, 3) stereotype effects influence self-perceptions, and 4) awareness of stereotype effects as well as the implications of self-perception maintenance (i.e., the process of maintaining a positive self-concept) are beneficial to student affairs professionals and other educators.