Posted on 09/25/2007 6:59:50 PM PDT by blam
Source: Association for Psychological Science
Date: September 26, 2007
Why Few People Are Devoid Of Racial Bias
Science Daily — Why are some individuals not prejudiced? That is the question posed by a provocative new study appearing in the September issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
The authors investigate how some individuals are able to avoid prejudicial biases despite the pervasive human tendency to favor one's own group.
Robert Livingston of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and Brian Drwecki of the University of Wisconsin conducted studies that examined white college students who harbored either some or no racial biases.
What is remarkable about the findings is that only seven percent did not show any racial bias (as measured by implicit and explicit psychological tests), and that nonbiased individuals differed from biased individuals in a psychologically fundamental way -- they were less likely to form negative affective associations in general.
Subjects completed a task that repeatedly paired unfamiliar Chinese characters with pictures that evoked positive or negative emotions (e.g., puppies or snakes). The objective was to see whether unfamiliar Chinese characters could evoke emotions by simply being paired with pictures that evoked these emotions (i.e., classical conditioning).
Results showed that nonbiased individuals were less likely than biased individuals to acquire negative affect toward characters that were paired with negative pictures. This implies that people who display less racial bias may be more resistant to the kinds of real-world conditioning that leads to racial bias in our society.
The results suggest that "whether someone is prejudiced or not is linked to their cognitive propensity to resist negative affective conditioning," according to the authors. Thus, reducing prejudice may require more than simply adopting egalitarian values. Instead, such change may require reconditioning of the negative associations that people hold.
"Just as it is difficult to change visceral reactions to aversive foods (e.g., lima beans) through sheer force of will," writes Livingston, "it may also be difficult to change visceral attitudes toward racial groups by acknowledging that prejudice is wrong and wanting to change." The authors argue that although negative affect cannot be reduced by reason alone, it could be reconditioned through positive interpersonal experiences or exposure to more positive images of Blacks in the media.
Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by Association for Psychological Science.
Are they talking about car parts or people?
And they knew this to be true by what evidence?
Psychobabble.
“...conducted studies that examined white college students who harbored either some or no racial biases.”
And why not conduct the same study among blacks?
I would like to advance the thesis that, if peoples' "negative associations" are justifiable, that if, in fact, they are based on valid observation and experience, then to NOT be "biased" is pathological. To NOT embrace negative conditioning is to discard one of the psychological mechanisms that has ensured our survival as a species. It is sick to expect people to choose the wrong door in the maze, get shocked, then choose the wrong door again. And again. And again. What this author proposes is that we are somehow wrong in associating being shocked with something negative.
Defining deviance downward.
I hate all paired unfamiliar Chinese characters.
“Psychobabble”
You beat me to the punch!
Love your post.
What is remarkable about the findings is that only seven percent did not show any racial bias (as measured by implicit and explicit psychological tests), and that nonbiased individuals differed from biased individuals in a psychologically fundamental way -- they were less likely to form negative affective associations in general.
Check back when those students get out into the real world and their "diversity is our strength" programing wears off.
I’m not a racist, I hate everybody...
Ah, so there is now “scientific” evidence for original sin?
Right. Lemme tick that one off the list.
I’m really looking forward to the “scientific” free will theorem.
“To NOT embrace negative conditioning is to discard one of the psychological mechanisms that has ensured our survival as a species. It is sick to expect people to choose the wrong door in the maze, get shocked, then choose the wrong door again.”
I agree with your response. It exposes the lie concerning learning prejudice from our parents or friends and not through direct experience. This was a dandy piece of propaganda which once was wide spread by the PC police. Even though it ignored obvious reality, we were to believe it was only our culture’s evil preconceptions and never from experience that anyone became prejudiced.
When I was in college studying behavioral science I did not dare even think about making this point in class. However, we no longer are in school. I’m quite sure you are correct.
Oh for god’s sake DROP IT.
Psychology is the science of creating words for things which don’t exist.
Sounds like an unpronounceable Polack!
Very few people in this country, and I’m serious now, seem devoid of the obsession with race, which obsession is nothing but ignorance, and this applies to these so-called scientists, because it’s not race anymore, it is culture, stupid!
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