How Asian You Think You Are: The Impacts of Identity Centrality on Model Minority Stress Among East Asians
Advisor: Michael Trujillo
Major: Information Systems
Abstract
Positive stereotypes are often seen as beneficial, but they may also create pressure that harms performance, known as stereotype choke. This study examined whether the extent to which a positive stereotype is shared by society impacts an individual’s performance on a stereotyped task. Specifically, I investigated whether the widely recognized model minority stereotype would impair math performance more than a more local positive stereotype about Carnegie Mellon University students being good at math. I also tested the mediation role of negative affect and the moderating role of self-construal. East Asian women at Carnegie Mellon University were randomly assigned to a model-minority, CMU-student, or control condition before completing a GRE-style math task. Results showed no significant differences in math performance across conditions. Negative affect did not mediate the relationship, and self-construal did not moderate these effects. Although hypotheses were not supported, the findings suggest that positive stereotypes may have more subtle and context-dependent effects than previously assumed.
Bio
My name is Yiyao Wang, and I am majoring in Information Systems and Psychology with a minor in Human-Computer Interaction. I am interested in understanding how stereotypes, social identities, and group processes shape people’s thoughts, behaviors, and well-being. As an international student, my experiences navigating different cultural environments have inspired my interest in social psychology and the ways identity influences our everyday lives. Through the Dietrich Honors Thesis Fellowship, I am excited to conduct my research in the SHER Lab under the mentorship of Professor Michael Trujillo, where I will examine how positive stereotypes, such as the model minority stereotype, influence mathematical performance and psychological experiences among East Asian students. I hope this work will contribute to a better understanding of how social expectations shape academic outcomes and inform more equitable educational environments.
Outside of academics, I enjoy running, hiking, and taking road trips to explore new places. I row with Carnegie Mellon’s Club Rowing Team and am actively involved in campus organizations, such as the Student Senate and the Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Association.