I Am What I Am: The Role of Essentialist Beliefs and Neurodivergent Identification on Individuals' Self-Efficacy

Essentialism is the belief that members of particular categories (e.g., social and cultural) are united by an innate underlying essence. While such beliefs have been associated with negative outcomes such as stereotyping, discrimination, and prejudice, minority group members can sometimes use essentialist beliefs to validate their identities. Here, we focus on people who identify as neurodivergent-individuals whose brains differ from typical neurology (such as those with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, etc.). We examined whether endorsing essentialist beliefs about neurodivergence serves a protective function among 316 neurodivergent-identifying individuals. As expected, endorsing essentialist beliefs was related to higher self-efficacy. This was especially true of people who highly identified as neurodivergent. These results illuminate how essentialist beliefs may empower a group that is often negatively stereotyped.

Automated summary

This study examined how endorsing essentialist beliefs about neurodivergence relates to self-efficacy among 316 neurodivergent-identifying individuals. The results showed that endorsing essentialist beliefs was positively associated with higher self-efficacy, especially for those who highly identified as neurodivergent. These findings highlight the empowering role of essentialist beliefs for a group that often faces negative stereotypes.