What psychological phenomenon is Jarod experiencing as he worries about confirming negative stereotypes during an intelligence test?

Jarod is experiencing stereotype threat, which refers to the risk of conforming to negative stereotypes about one's social group. This psychological phenomenon occurs when individuals feel at risk of being judged or treated according to these stereotypes, leading to anxiety and potential underperformance. In this scenario, as Jarod worries about being judged based on a negative stereotype during an intelligence test, it can create pressure that affects his cognitive functioning, potentially leading to poorer performance than he might otherwise achieve.

Understanding stereotype threat is crucial because it highlights how external societal attitudes can impact an individual's performance and self-perception. This phenomenon is especially relevant in contexts where group identity may influence how individuals perceive their abilities, thus leading to a cycle of affirmation of negative stereotypes. Other concepts like discrimination, imposter syndrome, and performance anxiety address different issues related to self-esteem, fear of exposure as a fraud, or fear of failing in performance settings, but they do not specifically pinpoint the interaction between group identity and anxiety over confirming stereotypes as accurately as stereotype threat does.