Dealing with negative stereotypes in sports: the role of cognitive anxiety when multiple identities are activated in sensorimotor tasks

Martiny, Sarah E., Gleibs, Ilka H. ORCID: 0000-0002-9913-250X, Parks-Stamm, Elizabeth J., Martiny-Huenger, Torsten, Froehlich, Laura, Harter, Anna-Lena and Roth, Jenny (2015) Dealing with negative stereotypes in sports: the role of cognitive anxiety when multiple identities are activated in sensorimotor tasks. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 37 (4). pp. 379-392. ISSN 0895-2779

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Abstract

Based on research on stereotype threat and multiple identities, this work explores the beneficial effects of activating a positive social identity when a negative identity is salient on women’s performance in sports. Further, in line with research on the effects of anxiety in sports, we investigate whether the activation of a positive social identity buffers performance from cognitive anxiety associated with a negative stereotype. Two experiments tested these predictions in field settings. Experiment 1 (N = 83) shows that the simultaneous activation of a positive (i.e., member of a soccer team) and a negative social identity (i.e., woman) led to better performance than the activation of only a negative social identity for female soccer players. Experiment 2 (N = 46) demonstrates that identity condition moderated the effect of cognitive anxiety on performance for female basketball players. Results are discussed concerning multiple identities’ potential for dealing with stressful situations.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	http://journals.humankinetics.com/jsep
Additional Information:	© 2015 Human Kinetics
Divisions:	Psychological and Behavioural Science
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Date Deposited:	29 May 2015 13:54
Last Modified:	12 Dec 2024 00:53
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/62145

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