INTERVIEW: Derek Brown Flashcards
What research questions drive him?
What is preventing us from creating a more equal / equitable society?
(What psychological barriers)
What inspired his paper?
The tech industry funding for diversity initiatives, but not seeing much progress
White ppl showing backlash towards diversity initiatives (saying diversity is harming them)
Saw: “I’m not racist but _____ things are harming people in my group”
What was one of his studies?
Random assignment to group:
Eagle
Rattler
Rattlers were receiving more bonuses
Two options:
1. Win-Win Policy Condition
50 more bonuses to Eagles,
5 more bonuses to Rattlers.
- Lose-Lose Policy Condition
50 fewer bonuses to Eagles,
5 fewer bonuses to Rattlers.
Among Rattler participants, Win-Win policy was seen as more harmful than the Lose-Lose policy. (preferred lose lose)
What is a key takeaway with his study?
People pay more attention to the relative position of their group (Us Vs Them)
Versus the actual standing of the group (how much we are actually getting)
Why do privileged groups not like moves for equality?
They see the relative difference as something to preserve for their in group
What are individual difference measures?
In studies you might want to see how certain traits associate with behaviors
(Ex. does racial bias effect your desire to conserve relative standing of your group)
How did they attempt to see if ppl can make more informed decisions?
Presented win win and lose lose conditions together, to see if it’ll effect their decision.
- Found ppl did vote more for positive policy
BUT it didn’t get rid of the idea that more equality = harmful to their group
Why might people be fine with an unequal system?
If they perceive their culture as a meritocracy
What are his goals with future studies?
Less focused on putting all people into one in-group (ex. we are all american/Canadian/ human)
And more to create understanding between groups that there is no harm
When do groups think they are incurring a loss?
When group boundaries are made salient
What is he interested in with coalitions?
How groups work together towards a common goal
Also wants to look back into organizations and how this effects diversity initiatives
What does he think about the zero sum mindset?
It is pervasive on how ppl see the world
and these beliefs on how the world works can push anti-egalitarian ideologies
