IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - September 2021 - 53

Considering the Effects
of Computer Scientist
Stereotypes on Mental
Health
Francesca Vera
Symbolic Systems Program, Stanford University,
Stanford, CA 94305 USA
 As enrollment in computer science (CS) programs
increases and technical jobs become more
available, the mental health of computer scientists
and engineers requires wider discussion. Mental
health constitutes of emotional, social, and psychological
well-being, affecting how a person thinks,
feels, and acts. Addressing issues surrounding mental
health is critical in ensuring one's happiness, productivity,
and, ultimately, safety.
Concerns about the " identity " of a computer
scientist, specifically the stereotypes that act as
barriers to entry and the historic lack of diverse representation
in the field, can contribute to mental
health issues faced by those at schools and in the
workplace. The desire to conform to certain stereotypes
can have adverse effects on that person's
mental well-being. This article considers the ways
stereotypes in CS produce difficult experiences surrounding
mental health, contributing to the dialogue
of mental health among engineering disciplines.
As more people decide to participate in the field,
it becomes even more important to challenge the
existing computer scientist stereotypes that are presently
harmful to participants' emotional, social, and
psychological health.
Stereotypes and mental health
Through passing and sharing of social information
between people on a repeated basis with regard
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MTS.2021.3104403
Date of current version: 2 September 2021.
September 2021
to a specific group, cultural stereotypes are created
and then proliferated throughout society [1]. Human
minds are hard-wired to categorize information, so
creating stereotypes based on this sharing of information
means that humans can see some sense of order
in these groups. Stereotypes also form to explain the
relationships between groups through which ideas
about the typical aspects of these groups in the context
of society begin to emerge [2].
Stereotypes affect mental health
Social and cultural stereotypes have had a
long-standing effect on mental health. In the case
of racial and ethnic stereotypes, racial and ethnic
minorities remain underrepresented in mental
health research, and members of these communities
are less likely to receive mental health care than
whites. Furthermore, negative stereotypes that result
in racism and discrimination, including micro-aggressions,
cannot be separated from mental health
issues, particularly the way they inflict psychological
suffering [3].
In an academic setting, stereotype threat, where
people risk conforming to the stereotypical qualities
of a certain group, can create mental problems
that lead to racial and gender gaps in testing. In a
study published by the American Psychological
Association, psychologists found that even passing
reminders of one's belonging to a certain group,
for example, belonging to a group stereotyped as
inferior in academics, can cause lower standard
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53
IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - September 2021

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