Inclusion at Stake in DEI Initiatives: Identity Threat, Competence Doubts, and Role Models

Abstract: While DEI practices are generally designed to foster inclusion, in some cases, they may trigger unanticipated negative spillovers. We investigate one such common case – targeted recruitment – and test whether coupling it with role modeling, a frequently recommended complement, can help counterbalance these unintended effects. Across three preregistered experiments with working women, targeted recruitment messages consistently reduced perceived inclusion. Study 1 provided initial evidence for the main effect. Study 2 explains why: targeted recruitment messages heighten professional identity threat and decrease self-perceived competence. Study 3 evaluates the effect of role modeling. It is not a magic fix: exposure to elite ingroup exemplars can amplify competence concerns, signaling that “only superstars belong”. We advance inclusion scholarship by identifying dual mechanisms behind DEI negative spillover and by specifying boundary conditions for role modeling effects. In practice, our results highlight the importance of carefully implementing DEI practices to strengthen, rather than inadvertently undermine, inclusion.

Keywords: Inclusion, DEI, Targeted Recruitment, Identity Threat, Competence, Role Model