Racial equity in social psychological science: A guide for scholars, institutions, and the field

Social psychology has focused on patterns of inequality (e.g., discrimination, stereotyping, stigma, intergroup relations) that underlie well‐documented disparities, often without engaging with the structural and intersectional patterns underlying these experiences. In this paper, we draw on intersectionality theory and research to illustrate how approaches to studying inequity and disparities in social psychology reflect a Western perspective, and structures work to uphold the status quo. It is argued that structures within the research process need to be made visible, both in terms of how research questions are framed, as well as on the representation within institutions responsible for producing and disseminating work addressing disparities. Engaging with intersectionality theory and research, we suggest four strategies that address individual and structural approaches to better position social psychology to contribute meaningfully to the reduction of disparate outcomes affecting minoritized individuals and groups. We suggest (a) examining and addressing the sources of inequality (e.g., addressing racism rather than the effects of racism), (b) carefully attending to language and framing in both the causes and impact of inequality and discrimination to shift the status quo in social psychology research and in society, (c) addressing representation within social psychology research, namely in critically examining representation and assumptions made about research samples, and (d) addressing representation in the “structure” of institutions. We offer these approaches, informed by intersectional theory, as tangible strategies to address some of the structural issues underlying inequality and disparities that can be addressed within social psychology.

Section: Addressing Representation In the Structure Of Institutionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A reconsideration of group differences in social psychology: Towards a critical intersectional approach

Sabik,

Versey

2023

“…Concurrently, Asian Americans have been used as a pawn in the fight to dismantle affirmative action, an uncomfortable position that many Asian Americans themselves do not support. Extant theories and methods in social cognition cannot adequately explain such events, in part because Asian Americans remain understudied within psychology (Roberts et al., 2020; Torrez et al., 2022; Yip et al., 2021). The problem is structural—research on Asian Americans as well as Asian American researchers themselves are consistently underfunded (Chen et al., 2022, Đoàn et al., 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Positioning Asian Americans in social cognition

Goh

Lei

Zou

2023

Asian Americans are increasingly positioned at the center of current events, yet extant theories and approaches in social psychology (and social cognition specifically) may not adequately capture how Asian Americans are perceived and treated in the current American racial landscape. We propose three directions to propel social cognition research on Asian Americans. First, research emphasizes Asian Americans' perceived high status (e.g., the model minority stereotype) while often overlooking their perceived foreignness. The two‐dimensional Racial Position Model elucidates the consequences of being stereotyped as perpetual foreigners for Asian Americans and their relations with other racial and ethnic groups. Second, research and laypeople alike consider East Asian Americans to be the prototypical Asian Americans, thereby excluding subgroups such as South and Southeast Asian Americans. Considering the ethnic diversity of Asian Americans challenges and extends existing social psychological theories. Lastly, much of psychological research approaches race in isolation without considering its intersection with other identities such as gender. An intersectional framework offers insights into how Asian Americans' gender and race overlap in our social cognition. More nuanced research on Asian Americans is needed to fully understand race relations in the 21st century and we hope these three interconnected directions can guide researchers who are interested in the topic.

“…As another example, research on White or straight people is often discussed without qualifiers (e.g., “women” rather than “White women”) due to its assumed default nature, while research on Black or queer Americans is routinely discussed with both identities highlighted (Rad et al., 2018). Finally, the presumed prototypicality of Whiteness pervades most stimuli sets, from the names and skin tones used to even the cultural connotations embedded within vignettes (e.g., “Even the rats were white”; Cook & Over, 2021; Guthrie, 1976; Torrez et al., 2023). The overrepresentation of White scholarship makes it less likely for research that includes other racial groups to be conducted, simply because the stimuli materials aren't as readily available.…”

Section: History Of Intersectionality Within Social Psychologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination at the intersection of race and gender: An intersectional theory primer

Hudson,

Myer,

Berney

2024

Self Cite

The incorporation of intersectionality within social psychology is becoming an increasingly common practice. From the hypotheses we generate to the methods we employ, as well as the analyses we run and the theories we use, researchers are moving away from studying social identities in isolation. By studying the interactional and emergent properties of multiple identities that go beyond the sum of identities, as well as understanding the complex nature of power and privilege, social psychologists can better understand processes such as stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination. Yet it can be difficult for researchers to know exactly where to begin. This review serves as a primer for conducting intersectionally‐informed research within social psychology, using the intersection of race and gender within the United States as a case study. We first describe the history of intersectional research in psychology, noting its barriers to implementation. Next, we review three classes of intersectionally‐informed models — intersectional perception, experience, and treatment — and offer suggestions for future research as well as ways researchers can incorporate the model within their work.