Stereotype threat and hazard perception among provisional license drivers

Stereotype threat refers to the negative impact a stereotype about one's group can have on one's performance in domains relevant to the stereotype. In the current paper, we explore whether the negative stereotype of provisional license drivers (PLDs) might produce stereotype threat in a driving-related hazard perception task. We manipulate threat by asking participants to self-identify as PLDs in a categorization condition, or by reminding PLD participants explicitly of the stereotype of PLDs in an explicit stereotype condition. Results reveal increments in hazard perception in the categorization condition, and decrements in hazard perception in the explicit stereotype condition. Mediation analysis reveals that hazard perception performance is fully mediated by increased effort in the categorization condition and by decreased effort in the explicit stereotype condition. We discuss these findings in terms of their implications for stereotype threat and its mediators, and for public policy that explicitly discriminates between PLDs and other driver groups.

► We explore stereotype threat effects among provisional license drivers (PLDs).
► We manipulate threat and measure PLDs’ hazard perception performance.
► An explicit stereotype reminder leads to performance decrements in hazard perception.
► The effect of stereotype threat on hazard perception is mediated by effort.
► These results have implications for provisional and graduated licensing policy.