Lecture 6 - Reducing Race Discrimination Flashcards
What is the relationship between racism and mental health?
Meta-analysis showed 76% positive correlation between reported racism and mental health issues (particularly depression and anxiety). This was moderated by age, gender, cognitive development, coping responses and social support.
What is the best approach to reduce race discrimination?
Implementing top-down elements (government legislation) and bottom-up strategies (school/university curricula).
What were the effects of university students undertaking a 6-week program about Indigenous Australians? (Pedersen & Barlow, 2008).
Focused on the collectivist nature of Aboriginals, effects of prejudice on children, etc. Found that there was a significant decrease in prejudice towards ATSI, favoured positive treatment for ATSI (AA), and false beliefs dropped significantly.
What were the problems of this study by Pedersen & Barlow (2008)?
Drop-out rates were close to 50%, so pre-test measures should be studied to find similar means. Moreover, there was an immediate follow up (primed with positive feelings concern) and no long term follow up.
What were the concepts put into action by the DIEC study?
Sought cooperation between Muslim and Christian students to reduce prejudice towards the other. Emphasised how they were similar but also they were different (dual-identity).
What were the results of the DIEC study?
Reduced intergroup anxiety and intergroup bias (stronger effect in Muslim students), maintained for over a year. Outgroup knowledge increased over a year (particularly for Christian students).
