Episode Details

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“What we call ‘intelligence’ is a performance. The measure of it is a fragile business.” 

Dr. Josh Aronson, a pioneer in the field of stereotype threat, is here today for a fascinating and meaningful conversation. We talk through the origins of stereotype threat, why Josh prefers to call it “identity threat” instead, and ways to combat identity threat in test-taking. We also spend a good bit of time on Josh’s current work, which revolves around teaching and implementing mindfulness and meditation in schools in order to improve academic performance. This episode is a wonderful mix of research and practice that will definitely have you thinking differently about the way we approach testing!

Cool Things Mentioned in this Episode

• www.reducingstereotypethreat.com
• Stereotype Threat: Theory, Process, and Application book (affiliate link)
• Steele & Aronson’s original article on stereotype threat
• Handbook of Competence and Motivation.pdf
• First Growth Mindset Study
• Good Aronson Inzlicht Second Growth Mindset Study ever
• The Obama Effect
• Aronson, Lustina, Good, Keough, Steele, & Brown (1999)
• Aronson & Juarez. Malleable Minds.-01

Featured Resource

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About Dr. Joshua Aronson

Joshua Aronson is a professor of developmental, social, and educational psychology at New York University, where he directs the Mindful Education Lab, a group of psychologists and neuroscientists dedicated to using research to improve the psychological functioning and learning of children confronted with stress.

Internationally known for his pioneering research on “stereotype threat” and “Growth Mindset,” Joshua’s work has been featured in popular books like Blink, Nurtureshock, Mindset, Drive, Nerve, Choke, Grit — and books with long titles like Lean in, How Children Succeed, Intelligence and How to Get It, and Whistling Vivaldi, and has been referenced in 4 Supreme Court cases. Listed by Education Week as one of the most influential education scholars in America, Joshua is the editor of Improving Academic Achievement (Academic Press) and Readings about the Social Animal, and is Co-auth