Since May marked Asian American Pacific Islander Month, this article sheds light on a harmful stereotype that affects the community.
The most prevalent stereotype about Asians is that they are really smart. But is this actually true? Statistically, yes, Asians are “smarter” based on certain measures. According to the National Library of Medicine, “Asian Americans have higher grades and standardized test scores, are more likely to finish high school and attend college, and are more likely to attend the most elite colleges relative to whites.” But why? And does this superior academic ability actually equate to intelligence?
One very controversial theory is that Asians are just genetically smarter. However, according to the same study from the National Library of Medicine, there is very little difference in intelligence between Asian children and white children. This shows that, while Asian students were advantaged in academic effort, they were not necessarily advantaged in cognitive ability. The Springer Nature Link also says that higher PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) scores in Asians are “likely associated with a combination of cultural, educational, and economic characteristics.” So, one thing’s for sure: it doesn’t just boil down to cognitive ability.
One major factor in the theories about the documented academic advantage is socio-demographic characteristics. According to the National Library of Medicine, “Relative to whites, [Asian American] parents tend to be better educated, and they are more likely to live in stable, two-parent families with higher incomes.” This theory makes sense because Asians earn higher median incomes and have higher net worths than other racial groups (Urban Institute). It is well documented that higher-income families are more likely to succeed academically, in, for example, SAT/ACT scores (Harvard Gazette). However, it should be noted that not all Asians are socioeconomically advantaged. According to the National Library of Medicine, “…the poverty rates of Chinese and Vietnamese are higher than they are for whites.” Still, these groups show academic advantage despite wealth disparities. That means socioeconomic status isn’t the sole reason either.
Perhaps the most reasonable explanation is cultural values. It’s a common stereotype that Asian parents are very strict on their kids, and there’s data to support this stereotype. Again, the National Library of Medicine states, “It is widely documented that Asian-American parents hold higher educational expectations for their children than white native-born parents.” This high pressure of academic success pushes students to get better grades, and thus, be perceived as “smarter.”
Additionally, Asian American families seem to have a different mindset around learning. As reported by the National Library of Medicine, “Studies show that Asian and Asian-American students tend to view cognitive abilities as qualities that can be developed through effort, whereas white Americans tend to view cognitive abilities as qualities that are inborn.” In other words, this is called a growth mindset. This mindset is essential for growth in all areas of life; it is generally a very healthy mindset to have. This mindset causes parents to set high expectations for their children. “I’m not good at math” is not an excuse in their eyes because math is a skill that can be improved. Asian Americans are also shown to have higher work ethics and motivation. This is, in part, due to the fact that immigrants in general, from all cultures, demonstrate higher motivation and work ethic because they left their home behind in search of better opportunities.
It’s important to note that there can be a high cost of academic success. A 2014 NIH study found that Asian American students have statistically lower self-esteem. This can be explained by the extremely high standards and achievements expected of them by their family. They feel bad about themselves if they don’t achieve certain things, and even when they do, it feels like the bar is constantly being set higher. Unfortunately, mental health is widely considered a taboo topic in many Asian cultures. An article from ScienceDirect says that South Korea has the highest suicide rates amongst OECD democratic, free-market nations, and the causes are often cited as academic pressures. China is notorious for the big test that determines students’ futures, called the Gaokao. Many people say it causes Chinese youth to feel like their whole life purpose boils down to the results of this one test. This intense pressure is detrimental to mental health. While America doesn’t have a Gaokao, the harsh mindset towards school and career travels over to Asian American youth through their immigrant ancestors. This pressure still exists for SAT/ACT scores, college applications, and other forms of academic achievement. Additionally, it is important to address that the stereotype of a “model-minority” for Asians may actually hinder success. The stereotype that Asians are always smart discredits the effort and personal intelligence of Asian students who are conventionally “smart.” Their success is simply credited to their race, not to them as a person. Additionally, Asians who don’t succeed at school feel worse about themselves because they’re “supposed to be” smart. This seemingly positive stereotype that Asians are smart is harmful in both ways.
In conclusion, yes, Asians are academically higher-achieving than other races. However, this is a combination of multiple factors that come at a high price for an AAPI student’s mental health and sense of self.
Sources:
Hsin, Amy, and Yu Xie. “Explaining Asian Americans’ academic advantage over whites.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America vol. 111,23 (2014): 8416-21. doi:10.1073/pnas.1406402111
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24799702/
Boman, B. The East Asian cognitive skills advantage: myth or reality?. SN Soc Sci 5, 231 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-025-01270-y
https://apps.urban.org/features/asian-american-wealth-snapshot/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165178119320578
