Stereotypes, Underconfidence and Decision-Making with an Application to Gender and Math

28 Pages Posted: 21 Feb 2018

See all articles by Elyes Jouini

Elyes Jouini

Univ. Paris Dauphine - CEREMADE

Paul Karehnke

ESCP Business School

Clotilde Napp

CNRS and Université Paris-Dauphine ; IZA

Date Written: February 7, 2018

Abstract

We study the effects of the presence of a negative stereotype on the formation of self-confidence and on decision-making in achievement-related situations. We take into account not only consumption utility but also psychological utility (ex-ante ego utility and ex-post disappointment/elation). We show that any stereotype of lower ability (in the form of biased interpretation of success and failure in terms of ability) leads to gaps in confidence, in participation in risky/ambitious options and in performance. Furthermore, we show how the stereotype survives and even gets reinforced. Considering gender and mathematics, we are able to explain the lower self-confidence of girls in mathematics, their underrepresentation in STEM fields, as well as their choices of less ambitious options and lower performance.

Keywords: stereotype, gender gap, self-confidence, subjective ability

JEL Classification: D03, D81, D84, J16, I24

Suggested Citation

Jouini, Elyes and Karehnke, Paul and Napp, Clotilde, Stereotypes, Underconfidence and Decision-Making with an Application to Gender and Math (February 7, 2018). Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3121545

Elyes Jouini

Univ. Paris Dauphine - CEREMADE ( email )

Place du Marechal de Lattre de Tassigny
Paris Cedex 16, 75775
France
+ 33 1 44 05 46 75 (Phone)
+ 33 1 44 05 45 99 (Fax)

Paul Karehnke (Contact Author)

ESCP Business School ( email )

79 avenue de la République
75011
France

Clotilde Napp

CNRS and Université Paris-Dauphine ( email )

Place de Lattre de Tassigny
Paris, 75775
France

IZA ( email )

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
136
Abstract Views
975
Rank
381,245
PlumX Metrics