Racism as a clinical syndrome.

Abstract

This paper examines the clinical effects of racism on its targets and, in particular, on its agents, the individuals who, wittingly or not, partake of the culture of racial privilege. It proposes a paradigm shift in regard to the clinical study of racism, and presents a structural model of racism, analogous to addiction as a disease, which holds that racism has an etiology and a clinical taxonomy that lends itself to differential diagnosis and treatment of those who manifest symptoms.

Race, racism, and mental health: elaboration of critical race theory's contribution to the sociology of mental health

“…But their violent rampages cannot be reduced to, or explained by, a standard diagnosis because that assessment would obfuscate how racialized experiences contributed to their psychopathology (Akbar, 1991;Bell, 1980;Carter, 1993;Dobbins & Skillings, 2000;Fernando, 1984;Kardiner & Ovesey, 1951;Thompson & Neville, 1999). Even lay persons recognized this fact.…”

“…The idea is that as Whites project negative feelings onto a hierarchically lower group via social comparison (i.e., a coping response that reduces stress), they are likely to experience increased mastery and control (Ackerman & Jahoda, 1950;Bell, 1980;Comer, 1991;Dobbins & Skillings, 2000;Jackson & Inglehart, 1995;McIntosh, 1992).…”

Identifying and Treating Race‐Based Trauma in Counseling

“…The Internet is a convenient means of transmitting hate because of its wide usage, anonymity, ease of distorting information, and the freedom it provides individuals to publish and propagate material they choose (Glaser & Kahn, ; Kang, ; Klein, ). Despite the continued existence of overt acts of racism, covert acts—whether intentional or unintentional—have become far more prevalent and remain pervasive in today's society (Dobbins & Skillings, ; Sue, ; Sue et al, ; Thompson & Carter, ).…”

Emotions and White Racial Identity Status Attitudes

“…W hite Americans, in particular mental health professionals and counselors, may be emotionally affected by participating in a social system that is racially stratified and has well‐documented racial inequities and disparities that some contend reflect inherent racism (Dobbins & Skillings, ; Pinterits, Poteat, & Spanierman, ; Sifford, Ng, & Wang, ). Our investigation explored which emotions were associated with White racial identity status attitudes when White people were presented with racially salient information.…”