Psychologist Claude Steele is widely noted for his research on stereotype threat, which refers to a:

a. fear of groups for which we hold negative stereotypes.

b. fear that members' behavior will confirm stereotypes about their group.

c. belief that threatening groups are easier to stereotype than average groups.

d. concern that stereotyping can lead to hostile interactions between groups.

I think it is a but then I thought b might be right.

b. is right.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotype_threat

I think it is B

You're on the right track! The correct answer is b. Stereotype threat, as researched by Claude Steele, refers to the fear or concern that members of a particular group may behave in a way that confirms negative stereotypes about their group. This fear or concern can actually impair the performance of individuals who belong to stereotyped groups, as they may worry about confirming these stereotypes and facing negative evaluations or judgments. It is important to note that stereotype threat affects various aspects of life, such as academics, work, and other social situations.

To arrive at this answer, you can follow the steps below:

1. Recall the definition of stereotype threat: it is the fear or concern that members of a group may behave in a way that confirms negative stereotypes about their group.
2. Examine the options:
a. "Fear of groups for which we hold negative stereotypes": This option touches on the concept of stereotypes but does not specifically address the fear that individuals from the stereotyped group may have.
b. "Fear that members' behavior will confirm stereotypes about their group": This option directly captures the essence of stereotype threat, as it addresses the fear or concern that individuals from a stereotyped group have about confirming negative stereotypes.
c. "Belief that threatening groups are easier to stereotype than average groups": This option does not accurately represent the concept of stereotype threat, as it talks about threatening groups rather than the fear of individuals confirming stereotypes about their group.
d. "Concern that stereotyping can lead to hostile interactions between groups": While this answer choice touches on the negative impact of stereotyping between groups, it does not specifically address the fear or concern that individuals from a stereotyped group have about confirming stereotypes.

Based on this analysis, option b best describes the concept of stereotype threat.