Performance
Job discrimination can effect many things in the workplace. Performance is one of
them. Discriminating against an employee can cause that employee to believe that it
is true. Prejudice is a major
factor in discrimination. It is something that not all people are aware of as well
as, can also cause a person to do less than what they are capable of doing. If a
co-worker or boss says that an employee is stupid, then that employee will believe that he
or she is stupid. Stereotypes can help you and hurt you depending on the stereotype.
Stereotypes
can be a threat to performance. On the other end of the spectrum, when you
praise an employee they will have more motivation to do well.
The reason
why all of this happens is because of the anxiety that is caused by being judged.
When an employee notices that they are being judged they become anxious and it is harder
for them to concentrate on the task. If the employee is being judged on a
stereotype, they may reject that stereotype, but still cannot avoid it. Claude Steel
calls this "stereotype threat". Steel advises employers to challenge their
employees. A "challenge conveys faith in their potential".
Other links throughout the tutorial:
This tutorial was produced for Psy 324, Advanced Social Psychology, Spring 2000 at Miami University. All graphics are from the public domain, used with permission, or were created by the authors. Social Psychology / Miami University (Ohio USA). Last revised: . This document has been accessed times since 1 May 2000. Comments & Questions to R. Sherman