Psychology of Racism Racial Prejudice Thesis

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Though prejudice seems to be a natural, hard-wired part of the human brain, racism is a learned trait, but the research discussed in Moskowitz's article suggests that there are predispositions in people's brains away from racism (and therefore probably towards racism as well). That is, when it comes to racism some people are simply faster learners than others. But though individual brain function explains some racism, it is far from the whole answer.

The research Moskowtitz explains only shows a predisposition towards the leanrned trait of racism; it ultimately fails to explain the source of racism. This is where institutional racism really connects to individual racism. In a society that as a whole is even slightly racist -- as many scholars suggest our is -- there are subconscious cues all around about the "good" and "bad" race or races. People who do not form negative associations do not pick up on them as easily, and presumably people who easily form negative associations pick up on them quickly and have the message constantly reinforced. It is the racism at the heart of human society then, born of universal human prejudice, that can ultimately cause individual racism.

The ills of society have a direct bearing on the science of psychology, as "psychological man lives in a history extending beyond himself, and that history is bound up with conflicts and struggles within the minds of men" (Lifton, qtd. In Wellman, 1993).

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That is, the racist mind does not exist in a vacuum; there are definite causes behind its formation. Some of those causes might be a genetic predisposition for certain types of thinking and concept-forming. Others are known to be more external -- early and repeated exposure to racist views, especially from an authority figure (especially a parent or elder sibling) can often lead to racism (Wellman, 1993). There has also been shown to be a higher prevalence of racism in people with lower income or other life issues, suggesting that the need to place blame is also a significant psychological difference between racists and non-racists (ADL, 2001).

Racism will almost certainly never be fully ended. Understanding its underlying causes can help us to combat it when it is encountered, and to resist it in ourselves. We might not be lucky enough to have been born without prejudice, but we were bron with minds that can correct it.

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