«Femme au volant⋯»: Effet de la menace du stéréotype et de la colère sur les performances des femmes à une tâche liée à la conduite automobile

Abstract

In the framework of the stereotype threat theory (Steele & Aronson, 1995), this article examines the emotions, more specifically fear and anger, as a mediator in the lower performance observed among stigmatized groups. Based on cognitive and functional theories (Mackie & Worth, 1989; Oatley & Johnson-Laird, 1987), the authors assume that fear and anger, through their maladaptive process of the task, could explain the deleterious effect observed on performances. A study conducted on 52 female students about a driving task highlights the implication of anger in the deleterious effect of stereotype threat. As expected, women underperformed when the task was presented as a measure of driving ability compared to women in a no threatening context. This lower performance can be explained by a more intense anger in women in a threatening context. These results will be discussed in terms of consequences of the cognitive processes triggered by the feeling of anger.