Study: exposure to positive images can combat racial bias

RACIAL bias can be overcome by subjecting people to a torrent of positive images about people with other skin colours, new research has shown.

The study showed an automatic display of racial bias among Irish people against people with other skin colours. This negative stereotype, found among a group of students, was an immediate near-reflex response, according to researchers.

However, when this same group of students was given training around positive gender stereotyping and was shown a range of positive images of people of different colour, this automatic ‘pro- white’ response changed.

The author of the report, Sean Hughes, a PhD psychology student at NUI Maynooth, said the research shows the importance of positive racial stereotyping.

He hopes to use this concept in further research around challenging sectarian stereotypes in the North.

“This research has practical implications for reducing stereotyping within Ireland and could possibly be introduced into schools to increase racial tolerance. It shows that negative stereotyping can be overcome but further research must be done to see if the modified behaviour lasts over time,” he said.

According to Hughes, there are two types of human response to a situation. There is an immediate, near-reflex response which registers automatically.

There is also a more controlled response where a person thinks first, albeit maybe for just seconds. Psychologists believe that when people are communicating around socially sensitive issues such as sex, racism or religion, they tend to adopt a more controlled response, but this study showed that the initial response shows an automatic bias.

Mr Hughes is due to present his research at the Psychological Society of Ireland annual conference in Athlone today.