Generalized ingroup-stereotyping as a response to perceived individual failure

Abstract Recently, scholars have argued that people may sometimes ‘strategically’ endorse ingroup-stereotypes to explain their own underperformance on stereotypic tasks. In the present study ( N  = 453), after receiving bogus negative feedback on their individual performance on a math/special ability test, women showed higher agreement with statements about men being more proficient than women in these domains. This effect, however, only materialized in women who are normally less inclined to endorse stereotypes, based on their low levels of Right-Wing Authoritarianism. Moreover, also positive ingroup-stereotypes were activated simultaneously, which may further explain how ingroup-stereotyping can help protect the individual's self-esteem.