Date Approved

2018

Degree Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department or School

Psychology

Committee Member

Rusty McIntyre, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Natalie Dove, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Eamonn Arble, Ph.D.

Abstract

Stereotype threat occurs when one may feel as if they are confirming or representing a selfcharacteristic or a negative stereotype of one’s group. Social exclusion has been shown to threaten the need to belong. Both stereotype threat and social exclusion have many common links: Each affects an individual’s self-views, feelings, and each impact one’s ability to focus cognitive faculties to perform well on cognitive tests. This thesis sought to explain how social exclusion would increase the perceived threat on related tests of sociability. As such, participants were included or excluded during an online social game, and then received an ordinary or diagnostic test of sociability. It was hypothesized that social exclusion would have negative effects on reports of social needs compared to the act of inclusion, and being excluded would influence performance on a measure of sociability. Results indicated support only for the social needs. It was also hypothesized that diagnostic tests for sociability would produce more stereotype threat and reported stress than pilot tests. Results indicated marginal support for this second hypothesis. It was also suggested that the most threat would be seen for participants who were both excluded and given a diagnostic test as compared to participants who were not excluded or not given a diagnostic test. That hypothesis, however, was not supported. Implications for theoretical connections between social exclusion and stereotype threat are discussed.

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