Final answer:
Societal stereotypes affect individual performance through mechanisms like confirmation bias and self-fulfilling prophecies, perpetuating prejudice and discrimination.
Step-by-step explanation:
The discussion revolves around the concept that societal stereotypes may influence the performance of individuals from the stereotyped group. This influence can occur through mechanisms like confirmation bias, where individuals look for evidence to support their stereotypes, and self-fulfilling prophecies, where individuals' expectations lead them to act in ways that cause the stereotyped individuals to conform to those expectations.
For instance, an employer may hold a stereotype that gay people are incompetent, which causes them to treat a gay job applicant poorly. This treatment can lead to a poor performance from the applicant, which in turn reinforces the employer's original stereotype. Such a cycle is harmful as it perpetuates prejudice and discrimination, affecting individuals' opportunities and societal status based on group membership rather than individual merit.