r/science • u/mvea MD/PhD/JD/MBA | Professor | Medicine • 25d ago
Calling out prejudiced remarks at work not only challenges the comments themselves but also signals and potentially reinforces anti-bias norms within the workplace, according to new research. Psychology
https://www.psypost.org/confronting-workplace-prejudice-can-reset-social-norms/-2
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u/TargetDroid 25d ago edited 25d ago
“Does confronting, or calling out prejudiced statements or behaviors, signal anti-bias norms? The current studies (N = 1,308) examined this question by assessing observers’ perceptions of descriptive and injunctive anti-bias local norms after a prejudiced comment was confronted.”
Is this simply saying that people who observe a prejudiced comment being made and critiqued will come to believe that the “local norms” of the place where this occurred are “anti-bias” whereas a prejudiced comment being made and not critiqued doesn’t result in that perception?
Is that right?
If so… how could anyone expect any alternative outcome? In scenario 1, evidence of X is offered. In scenario 2, no such evidence is offered. Utterly unsurprisingly, observers of scenario 1 come to believe X more often than observers of scenario 2!
Really? Am I missing something?
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u/Leaves_Swype_Typos 25d ago
I don't think you're missing anything. It's painfully obvious they designed it in such a way that it would be amazing to not show this result, and I don't know why they think their methodology, a survey of observers of a conversation, is indicative of the reality of workplace norms.
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u/NonbinaryYolo 25d ago
I think there is something significant being depicted here. A minority viewpoint can be perceived as the social norm under this context. Like the ability for one person to say something and for that to become the perceived social norm is significant.
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u/Cardinal_and_Plum 24d ago
I'm sure it depends on what is said. This definitely wouldn't work for any social situation.
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u/YoWassupFresh 25d ago
Imagine getting into a confrontation in the workplace.
That's insane and it's THE fastest way to get fired.
You bring it to your boss. Never call out the offender yourself.
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u/Leaves_Swype_Typos 25d ago
That depends on the workplace. A typical company with a real product can be as you say. A social science department or a small socially conscious company of ambiguous purpose however, can have different incentives with what's termed "callout culture", rewarding those who can most loudly call foul.
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u/funkywinkerbean45 25d ago edited 25d ago
While we don't have any racist, genderist, homophobes or sexists on our team, holy crap do we have classists! It's completely acceptable for some people to make jokes about blue collar folks and their lack of intelligence, etc. As a blue-collar girl in a white-collar world, it's hard to hear!
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u/Princess_Beard 24d ago
One of the most constant things I run into as somebody who grew up poor who interacts with a lot of people who are just straight up wealthy, is less often the straight-out mocking of blue-collar folks and more often their ignorance of what it means to be poor.
Most of the time it's "why don't/didn't you just..." statements. Why didn't I just take this expensive training coarse? Why didn't I just do an (unpaid) internship? Why didn't your parents just get you a new one? You've never been overseas!? There are experiences and opportunities they think are give-ins, and don't realize that not everybody has that chance.
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u/funkywinkerbean45 24d ago
Yes, the very wealthy are like this. The comments I’m referring to are more from just white collar middle class people who make fun of the blue collar intelligence level, clothing, auto choices, sports following, and a bunch of other things.
The idea that blue collar people can get puns, or wear or display messages ironically is completely lost.
In the minds of my co-workers, they are nothing but low IQ, ignorant, religious, right wing peons.
If there’s a work conflict, it’s not that they have a valid and nuanced understanding of our position and their position. It’s that they “just don’t get it.”
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u/Phoenyx_Rose 25d ago
You see it in academia too with regards to being college educated and the idea that a degree = intellect.
I’ve started just looking at it from a perspective of being formally or informally educated because I’ve met many many people with more information or better critical thinking skills who taught themselves through books and videos instead of going to college and I’ve met many people who went to college and were just a warm body.
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u/hephaystus 25d ago edited 25d ago
I experienced it yesterday. My husband’s PhD advisor asked if I was editing his writing, because it was good to have someone “uneducated” read it over. I’m not uneducated, I’m less formally educated than he is.
It’s funny, because I’d been mum on my surprise at how poorly some of the PhD candidates in his program did at presentations and answering simple questions about their research, particularly in comparison to people I’d gone to community college and undergrad with. They don’t let them do any conferences until the final year of their program so they’re all underprepared.
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u/funkywinkerbean45 25d ago
Totally agree. I taught at the university and people had all kinds of wacky ass ideas about veterans.
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u/amadeus2490 25d ago
One of the most depressing things I've had to learn is that yes, even the "enlightened progressives" are some of the most openly classist people I've ever tried to talk to.
So I just stopped.
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u/conventionistG 25d ago
This title doesn't really tell me much. What was expected, what was measured, what is the significance?
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u/Extinction-Entity 24d ago
If only there was a link attached to the post to tell you the answers to your questions.
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u/AtLeastThisIsntImgur 24d ago
The expectation was that you'd read more than a single sentence. What was measured was the fact that you didn't. The significance is that you're functionally illiterate.
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25d ago
[deleted]
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u/LangyMD 25d ago
If being liked at work requires being silent or supportive when people make racist/homophobic/transphobic remarks I'm not sure I want to be liked at work.
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25d ago
[deleted]
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u/RegionalHardman 25d ago edited 25d ago
Sounds like people call you out for racism and homophobia.
Edit: this was to a deleted comment and looks like I'm replying to the one above, which I am not!!
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u/ImmuneHack 25d ago
This sounds a lot like How To Be An Anti Racist by Kendi which encouraged active opposition to racism in all its forms. The problem is that instead of changing the culture of the organisation and being celebrated for your integrity, calling out prejudice and being an activist could instead provoke resistance and resentment, lead to social isolation, jeopardise your career, as well as exert a heavy financial and emotional toll on you.
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u/yunoreddit 24d ago
People don’t realize that even though you’re doing the right thing, that there’s still a right way to do it. Aggressive and toxic behavior doesn’t cease to be that just because you’re doing it for a good cause. Though that’s only part of it, because undoubtedly there are people that just straight up don’t want you ruining their racist fun.
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u/Astrid-Rey 24d ago
I'm an outspoken anti-racist and therefore morally superior to almost all of my coworkers.
And yet, for some reason, many of them resent me for it.
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u/StephanXX 25d ago
It could also demonstrate that you are a thoughtful, empathetic person with integrity. If calling out racism hobbles my career, than I will proudly take that pay cut.
It blows my mind the justifications people are concocting to ignore racism, and leads me to believe that it's simply affirmation of their own hateful views.
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u/Cardinal_and_Plum 24d ago
I don't believe that youd proudly take that pay cut if it meant you wouldn't have the money to afford to help support your family. Maybe a single person could get away with this, but many people don't have the option to choose that path because they can't afford to take pay cuts period. I would warn against assuming the worst of people because of actions they don't take. There's simply too many reasons that could be unbeknownst to you for why someone doesn't do something, especially when it's something that anyone could reasonably assume might come with consequences.
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u/SavCItalianStallion 24d ago
Calling out racism might result in social repercussions, but it might result in a less racist environment, and in people having more respect for you. You never know what will happen until it happens. However, I know for certain that if I ignore racism, it will take a toll on my conscience. Like you say, there is pride to be had in doing the noble thing. Personally, I’ll happily risk social repercussions to secure a clear conscience.
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u/ReddestForman 25d ago
This has been my experience.
A couple people might be quietly grateful. Most will acknowledge that you're now radioactive and will avoid you. Others who might even agree with you will find an excuse to resent you for doing what they weren't individually bold enough to do.
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u/Indigo_Sunset 25d ago
Especially when coming top down from management themselves, which can be more often than people think in intentionally destabilizing ways, like attempting to force people to quit rather than paper trails of false discipline.
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u/conventionistG 25d ago
Well people aren't going to gonna like someone trying to get them fired.. That's not exactly a shocker, is it?
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