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Yale study: White liberals use ‘less competent’ language with blacks — but conservatives don’t
The Blaze ^ | November 27, 2018 | Dave Urbanski

Posted on 11/27/2018 3:21:18 PM PST by TBP

White liberals behave with less competence around black people “in an effort to get along,” according to a new study by a Yale professor.

Yale Insights offered the following summary of the study by Cydney H. Dupree, assistant professor of organizational behavior at the Yale School of Management: “White Liberals Present Themselves as Less Competent in Interactions with African-Americans.”

It’s about language The study further suggests that white Americans who hold liberal socio-political views tend to use words that make them appear less competent when they’re around racial minorities — but no significant differences were seen in conservatives’ word selections, the outlet added.

“It was kind of an unpleasant surprise to see this subtle but persistent effect,” Dupree told Yale Insights. “Even if it’s ultimately well-intentioned, it could be seen as patronizing.”

What does the study say is behind this behavior? Dupree and her co-author, Susan Fiske of Princeton University, said this behavior is the result of liberals’ desire to connect with other races, the outlet noted.

The authors describe it as a “competence downshift” — which occurs regardless of race when people desire to appear likeable and friendly, Yale Insights noted. However, Dupree added to the outlet that it’s also possible that “this is happening because people are using common stereotypes in an effort to get along.”

More from Yale Insights:

Initial data from follow-up studies suggest that describing a black person as highly intelligent, thus reversing the stereotype, or as already highly motivated to get along with whites, thus removing the need to prove goodwill, can reduce the likelihood that a white person will downplay their competence in their interactions with the black person.

Now, Dupree is working to understand how these behaviors play out in real-world organizations: for example, whether medical professionals engage in this behavior when interacting with minority patients and how corporate executives present themselves to minority peers. She is also testing the efficacy of this possibly strategic behavior: for example, do black receivers of white liberals’ competence downshift see this behavior as demeaning or endearing?

“There’s a lot of research focused on biased individuals and how holding bias, especially implicit bias, can influence social interactions,” Dupree added to the outlet. “But that leaves a lot of people out. My hope is that this work will help include well-intentioned people who see themselves as allies but who may be unwittingly contributing to group divides. There is a broader need to include them in the conversation.”

The researchers also found that Democratic candidates used fewer competence-related words in speeches to audiences consisting mostly of minorities than in speeches to mostly white audiences, Yale Insights said.


TOPICS: Education; Miscellaneous; Politics; Society
KEYWORDS: 2020election; africanamericans; blacks; boycotts; conservatives; dnctalkingpoint; dnctalkingpoints; election2020; incometaxes; liberals; sanctions; tariffs; taxcutsandjobsact; taxreform; tcja; trade
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To: TBP

My liberal friends, many of whom have never actually seen much less talked to a black person, would most assuredly be condescendingly over-nice to them.


41 posted on 11/27/2018 5:29:44 PM PST by Veto! (Veto! (Political Correctness Offends Me))
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To: Himyar
I am a Southerner. I see the interactions between all kinds of blacks and whites. It just does not jive with the accusations made about conservative whites and the picture of blacks having chips on their shoulders. We get along fine with kindness and politeness. There is genuine humor and chit chat. Maybe because our mamas raised us right or maybe because we don’t hate each other like we are supposed to.

It is exactly the same in my Upper South small town. I have never seen any racial animosity by anyone of either race to someone of the other. And I have never heard a local Black person spew pseudo-Marxist/postmodern nonsense.

Unfortunately, the fact remains that these "good people" are the ones who vote for the nihilists and keep them in power. They evidently feel no kinship with their "co-religionists" or have the slightest concern that their political friends ridicule religious beliefs most of them hold as well. They can't be so idiotic as to be unaware of abortion, homosexuality, etc. Yet to them it's always 1860. Does not compute.

Like the Russian Orthodox Church in Soviet Ukraine which Ukrainian Catholics were forced to join, the Black churches have profited by the persecution of their "co-religionists."

42 posted on 11/27/2018 5:52:04 PM PST by Zionist Conspirator ("Conservatism" without G-d is just another form of Communism.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

“Liberals believe they own blacks.” — Candace Owens


43 posted on 11/27/2018 5:52:39 PM PST by TBP (Progressives lack compassion and tolerance. Their self-aggrandizement is all that matters.)
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To: TBP
What? That would be conservatives acting White? Which is racist?

Seriously, this is how Leftists conflate conservatism, racism and intellect. There is no assumption of equality.

44 posted on 11/27/2018 6:01:38 PM PST by jonascord (First rule of the Dunning-Kruger Club is that you do not know you are in the Dunning-Kruger club.)
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To: TBP
My final assignment in the Air Force was as commander of an engineering unit. About a third of my engineers and technicians were Blacks. The engineers had all graduated from reputable engineering schools. The technicians had all graduated from Air Force technician school, or they had certificates from community colleges. I treated my Blacks same way I treated my whites. I expected everyone to deliver, and we got along fine.
45 posted on 11/27/2018 6:15:00 PM PST by JoeFromSidney (Colonel (Retired) USAF)
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To: TBP

Ive seen it, they talk down to anyone they deem not on their level.


46 posted on 11/27/2018 6:32:44 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not Averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: TBP
for example, do black receivers of white liberals’ competence downshift see this behavior as demeaning or endearing?

I'd consider it demeaning.

The only ones who would think it would be endearing are the liberals who are so full of themselves that theycan't see how other people function or react.

47 posted on 11/27/2018 6:37:07 PM PST by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith......)
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To: TBP

Liberals work from the presumption of stereotypes and work hard to convince everyone who not prejudiced they are.

Which really shows they are or they wouldn’t be trying so hard to prove something.

To us conservatives, we value the person who who they are, not what skin color they have.


48 posted on 11/27/2018 6:38:40 PM PST by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith......)
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To: Himyar

My take on your comment is this;
Growing up poor and whit in the south myself, I know for a fact(at least in the area I grew up in) there are a lot more poor whites than the total number of blacks.

And despite the differences in race, we share a lot of the same culture.
Also, speaking from experience as relating to encounters with law enforcement, being white and “visibly” poor in the south gets you almost the same treatment.

Any white person who grew up poor in the south will more often than not will say the same.


49 posted on 11/27/2018 6:44:40 PM PST by SantosLHalper (Eat some bacon.No, I got no idea if it'll make you feel better, I just made too much bacon.")
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To: Himyar

Liberals have to relate to people as members of stereotypical “groups.” It’s because they cannot deal with people as unique individuals, nor do they think of them that way. Hillary is far and away the absolutely classic example of this.


50 posted on 11/27/2018 6:56:42 PM PST by JennysCool
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To: JennysCool

51 posted on 11/28/2018 1:50:31 AM PST by littleharbour ("You take on the intel community they have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you" C. Schumer)
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To: TBP

Yep - conservatives treat people as equals until they prove otherwise...no matter the race, etc.,. On the other hand, Libs treat them like stupid pets who have no understanding of how nice the Libs are making it for them...


52 posted on 11/28/2018 3:30:15 AM PST by trebb (Those who don't donate anything tend to be empty gasbags...no-value-added types)
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