Study: TV May Perpetuate Race Bias
Mr. Hole The Magnificent: An ABC Studios Production
By Alice Park
Most people regard watching television as a passive activity. You sit,
you watch. Occasionally, you change the channel. But a new study
reveals that even this passive diversion may lead to actively damaging
effects, particularly when it comes to issues of race.
In a series of intricately designed experiments, psychologists at
Tufts University demonstrate that subtle racial biases are often
expressed by characters on popular television shows, and that viewers
not only pick up these attitudes but allow them to shape their own
outlooks on race. The most insidious part of this cultural traffic,
the researchers found, is that the transmission of race bias appears
to occur subconsciously, unbeknownst to the viewer.
Led by Max Weisbuch, a postdoctoral student in the lab of Tufts
psychology professor Nalini Ambady, researchers designed the multipart
study to examine the communication of race bias on television to white
college-age volunteers. Weisbuch and his team were intrigued by the
fact that despite a significant reduction in overt expressions of
racism in modern American society — the country has, after all, just
elected its first black president — studies consistently find that
many people still show biased or negative attitudes toward African-
Americans, primarily through nonverbal means such as facial
expressions, crossed arms and averted gazes.
The psychologists wondered how such biases could persist in a society
in which racism is socially unacceptable and indeed publicly
denounced. So the group decided to examine the medium of television,
which connects the vast majority of Americans, and through which many
people predominantly receive their social and cultural cues. The study
looked at 11 popular prime-time TV shows, such as Heroes, Scrubs,
House, CSI: Miami and Grey's Anatomy, whose casts include both white
and black recurring characters of equal status.
In the first of a series of four studies, researchers showed
participants TV clips in which a white character and black character
interact — but the segments were stripped of sound and the black
character was digitally deleted. The idea was to ensure that neither
race nor dialogue would color viewers' analysis. The exercise was
repeated with the white character deleted. Researchers then asked the
viewers, white college students, to evaluate in each circumstance,
whether the unseen character appeared to be treated positively or
negatively by the seen character, and how well liked he or she
appeared to be.
In the end, across the majority of TV shows, viewers consistently said
that the white characters had received more positive treatment and
were better liked than their black counterparts. What fascinated
Weisbuch was that the viewers' judgment of the characters was based
purely on nonverbal cues, from facial expressions to body language. In
fact, when participants were given transcripts of the verbal content
of the clips, they saw no difference in the way black or white target
characters were treated by speaking characters.
These expressions may have been scripted into the show by writers, or
by productions editors or the director, but nevertheless, researchers
say they demonstrate unfavorably biased attitudes toward black
characters. Next, researchers tried to figure out whether this
nonverbal bias was being communicated to people watching the show.
Researchers created two sets of short, silent clips, one pro-white and
the other pro-black. In the pro-white set, white characters were
treated positively and black characters were treated negatively; in
the pro-black clips, the reverse was true.
A separate group of students was asked to view either the pro-white or
pro-black TV clips. Afterward, the students completed a questionnaire
that was presented as a different study, but actually served as a
measure of their racial bias. The results suggested that students who
viewed the pro-white clips were much more likely to demonstrate racial
bias than those watching the pro-black clips.
"That suggests that exposure to the nonverbal behaviors affects bias,"
says Prof. Ambady. The scientists went on to demonstrate that the
viewers were unaware of the clips' effect. In another part of the
study, students were asked to watch the same pro-white and pro-black
clips, but this time they were also instructed to be on the look- out
for evidence of subtle biased behavior.
Afterward, viewers were asked to determine whether white characters or
black characters were treated better. Because each set of clips was
created to favor one group or the other, there was only one right
answer to the question. The students had a 50-50 chance of responding
correctly — and that's exactly how well they did, no better than
chance.
In other words, the patterns of bias expressed in the characters'
nonverbal behavior were not obvious to the viewers. "The effect
[television has] on viewers might be something less than conscious,"
says Weisbuch. The findings suggest that despite the progress that has
been made in addressing racism in the America, we may still be
perpetuating prejudice in subtle ways — and, if Weisbuch's findings
are validated, in ways that we may not even realize.
"Human beings are thinking, cognizant, conscious beings who can be
strategic and intentional," says John Dovidio, a professor of
psychology at Yale University who wrote an editorial accompanying
Weisbuch's study, published Thursday in Science. "But we are also kind
of emotional and we do a lot of things without full conscious
awareness. What this research suggests is that although our minds are
in the right places, and we may truly believe we are not prejudiced,
our hearts aren't quite there yet."
Acknowledging the disconnect may be the first step in bridging the gap
between our hearts and minds, says Ambady. Figuring out exactly where
and how subtle biases creep into our culture would be a start. To do
that, we may have to start watching television more actively, and
astutely, instead of passively absorbing everything we see.
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1948662,00.html#ixzz0aBxjTg2f
dave
RichA
Ken from Chicago
"Mr. Hole The Magnificent: An ABC Studios Production"
<classic...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:cb03b073-d9d5-4608...@y24g2000yqb.googlegroups.com...
~From Time
~By Alice Park
~Most people regard watching television as a passive activity. You sit,
~you watch. Occasionally, you change the channel. But a new study
~reveals that even this passive diversion may lead to actively damaging
~effects, particularly when it comes to issues of race.
~In a series of intricately designed experiments, psychologists at
~Tufts University demonstrate that subtle racial biases are often
~expressed by characters on popular television shows, and that viewers
~not only pick up these attitudes but allow them to shape their own
~outlooks on race. The most insidious part of this cultural traffic,
~the researchers found, is that the transmission of race bias appears
~to occur subconsciously, unbeknownst to the viewer.
<snip>
Try and find 3 African American couples where the female is *darker* than
male or where the female does not pass the brown paper bag test (i.e., where
she is not lighter than the classic brown paper bags that used to be
available at grocery stores).
-- Ken from Chicago
climber
I disagree. Blacks are presented in roles that simply do not exist in
the real world. Nuclear
submarine commanders, brain surgeons, etc. How often to you see a
Black presented in a
negative light. Take crime stats alone; in 2007 over 34,000 White
women were sexually
assaulted by Blacks. Less then 10 Black women by White males. (google
"color of crime")
How many Black villans in the crime shows? Hollywood even more biased
in favor of
"outstanding" Blacks. Same special "image" enhancement now being given
to hispanics.
The public is on to the media campaign to turn sow's ears into silk
purses.
climber
wolfagain
The extreme degree that the media and corps will go to perpetuate
DISHONEST positive bias for minorities(blacks) is in
commercials...like the adt one where a white guy is trying to break
into a home where a black female lives....? And the pain reliever
commercial where 3 dumb whites can't decide which pain reliever to buy
then a black woman enters and shows them the right one....whites look
confused, but black woman had no problem at all.
AC
"Mr. Hole The Magnificent: An ABC Studios Production"
By Alice Park
Most people regard watching television as a passive activity. You sit,
you watch. Occasionally, you change the channel. But a new study
reveals that even this passive diversion may lead to actively damaging
effects, particularly when it comes to issues of race.
In a series of intricately designed experiments, psychologists at
Tufts University demonstrate that subtle racial biases are often
expressed by characters on popular television shows, and that viewers
not only pick up these attitudes but allow them to shape their own
outlooks on race. The most insidious part of this cultural traffic,
the researchers found, is that the transmission of race bias appears
to occur subconsciously, unbeknownst to the viewer.
Led by Max Weisbuch, a postdoctoral student in the lab of Tufts
psychology professor Nalini Ambady, researchers designed the multipart
study to examine the communication of race bias on television to white
college-age volunteers. Weisbuch and his team were intrigued by the
fact that despite a significant reduction in overt expressions of
racism in modern American society � the country has, after all, just
elected its first black president � studies consistently find that
many people still show biased or negative attitudes toward African-
Americans, primarily through nonverbal means such as facial
expressions, crossed arms and averted gazes.
The psychologists wondered how such biases could persist in a society
in which racism is socially unacceptable and indeed publicly
denounced. So the group decided to examine the medium of television,
which connects the vast majority of Americans, and through which many
people predominantly receive their social and cultural cues. The study
looked at 11 popular prime-time TV shows, such as Heroes, Scrubs,
House, CSI: Miami and Grey's Anatomy, whose casts include both white
and black recurring characters of equal status.
In the first of a series of four studies, researchers showed
participants TV clips in which a white character and black character
interact � but the segments were stripped of sound and the black
correctly � and that's exactly how well they did, no better than
chance.
In other words, the patterns of bias expressed in the characters'
nonverbal behavior were not obvious to the viewers. "The effect
[television has] on viewers might be something less than conscious,"
says Weisbuch. The findings suggest that despite the progress that has
been made in addressing racism in the America, we may still be
perpetuating prejudice in subtle ways � and, if Weisbuch's findings
are validated, in ways that we may not even realize.
"Human beings are thinking, cognizant, conscious beings who can be
strategic and intentional," says John Dovidio, a professor of
psychology at Yale University who wrote an editorial accompanying
Weisbuch's study, published Thursday in Science. "But we are also kind
of emotional and we do a lot of things without full conscious
awareness. What this research suggests is that although our minds are
in the right places, and we may truly believe we are not prejudiced,
our hearts aren't quite there yet."
Acknowledging the disconnect may be the first step in bridging the gap
between our hearts and minds, says Ambady. Figuring out exactly where
and how subtle biases creep into our culture would be a start. To do
that, we may have to start watching television more actively, and
astutely, instead of passively absorbing everything we see.
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1948662,00.html#ixzz0aBxjTg2f
================================================
Or, people simply think that way to start with. Maybe they just think and
assume that white people are treated more positively in general.
AC
Obveeus
"Mr. Hole The Magnificent: An ABC Studios Production"
>The study
>looked at 11 popular prime-time TV shows, such as Heroes, Scrubs,
>House, CSI: Miami and Grey's Anatomy, whose casts include both white
>and black recurring characters of equal status.
Where did they find these people that had never seen any of the above 11
shows before so that they would be able to evaluate what they were seeing
without bias as to what they knew about the shows?
>In the end, across the majority of TV shows, viewers consistently said
>that the white characters had received more positive treatment and
>were better liked than their black counterparts.
>These expressions may have been scripted into the show by writers, or
>by productions editors or the director,
That is an odd conclusion. How could they possibly believe that these
reactions were scripted in by the writers, directors, editors? Why not
claim that the actors caused the viewer reaction? Personally, I think the
'viewer reaction' says something about the veiwer, not the TV shows.
>Researchers created two sets of short, silent clips, one pro-white and
>the other pro-black. In the pro-white set, white characters were
>treated positively and black characters were treated negatively; in
>the pro-black clips, the reverse was true.
Wouldn't the resercher's own 'bias' define how these clips were assembled?
>Afterward, viewers were asked to determine whether white characters or
>black characters were treated better. Because each set of clips was
>created to favor one group or the other, there was only one right
>answer to the question. The students had a 50-50 chance of responding
>correctly � and that's exactly how well they did, no better than
>chance.
So, the conclusion is that the researchers were no better than 50/50 in
guessing which clips were pro-white and which were pro-black.
> What this research suggests is that although our minds are
> in the right places, and we may truly believe we are not prejudiced,
> our hearts aren't quite there yet."
They got that much right...now they just need to realize that 'our hearts'
are not on the TV screen. Maybe the TV clips weren't bias, but maybe the
viewers were?
Dano
That's an odd statement. Let me ponder that. Makes me wonder how lily
white the area you live in is. I can think of several in my own immediate
circle. Or are you referring only to the television universe. I must admit
I don't usually put couples to such a test.
climber
> Ken from Chicago wrote:
> > "Mr. Hole The Magnificent: An ABC Studios Production"
>
> - Show quoted text -
Outstanding positive Black images:
http://www.newnation.org/ New Nation
climber
Ken from Chicago
"climber" <coled...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ed36af20-4dd2-410a...@m16g2000yqc.googlegroups.com...
Yes, I was referring to the tv universe.
And the OP was about subtle almost subliminal bias cues. The whole light
skin vs dark skin is one that still happens, whether intentional or not. Try
and name 3 African American couples ever on tv where the female is darker
than the male--and if she is, then is she darker than a classic brown paper
bag.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorism#African-Americans_in_the_United_States
-- Ken from Chicago
Obveeus
"Ken from Chicago" <kwicker1...@comcast.net> wrote:
> And the OP was about subtle almost subliminal bias cues. The whole light
> skin vs dark skin is one that still happens, whether intentional or not.
> Try and name 3 African American couples ever on tv where the female is
> darker than the male--and if she is, then is she darker than a classic
> brown paper bag.
Girlfriends had several examples, I suppose. Then again, you would discount
Toni's relationship because she was married to a white guy and you would
likely discount Golden Brook's character because she wore enough makeup that
she looked lighter skinned that she really is, though still darker than her
husband on the show. For that matter, how many women on TV don't wear
makeup? For black women doesn't that makeup almost always tend to lighten
them slightly, just as for the white women doesn't that makeup tends to
darken them slightly? This is an issue for set lighting rather than racial
biases, IMO.
Pete B
>
> ~By Alice Park
>
> ~Most people regard watching television as a passive activity. You sit,
> ~you watch. Occasionally, you change the channel. But a new study
> ~reveals that even this passive diversion may lead to actively damaging
> ~effects, particularly when it comes to issues of race.
>
> ~In a series of intricately designed experiments, psychologists at
> ~Tufts University demonstrate that subtle racial biases are often
> ~expressed by characters on popular television shows, and that viewers
> ~not only pick up these attitudes but allow them to shape their own
> ~outlooks on race. The most insidious part of this cultural traffic,
> ~the researchers found, is that the transmission of race bias appears
> ~to occur subconsciously, unbeknownst to the viewer.
Baa race - try faux news training a million humans to devolved into
monkies.
And then expansion - first up is canada - they are the ones who have
hidden the bananas!
Pete B
says...
> > in the right places, and we may truly believe we are not prejudiced,
> > our hearts aren't quite there yet."
>
> They got that much right...now they just need to realize that 'our hearts'
> are not on the TV screen. Maybe the TV clips weren't bias, but maybe the
> viewers were?
>
>
In short; you don't believe in global warming
Obveeus
"Pete B" <xxxh@_xsomeething.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.2598f1c44...@news.usenetserver.com...
The subject isn't global warming and your response is silly.
My point was that I do not believe that the 'scientists' chose unbiased
clips and then were able to prove that the clips were bias (which is the
claim that the study is making). The fact that the respondants in the study
gave biased answers is not *proof* that the TV clips were biased. I think
it is more likely that the respondents (average humans) have bias to begin
with. The TV clips didn't make them that way, as the study suggests.
Ken from Chicago
"Obveeus" <Obv...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:hgjtsh$rjb$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
That depends on the makeup and the makeup person. Many African American
celebs often look lighter on some magazines than on magazines targetted to
the African American demographic.
Then again, why making a person look lighter is considered better is a
deeper question. "Fair" skin refers to light skin. That's the denotation but
the connotation is the lighter the better (e.g., LORD OF THE RINGS). Is that
racist or racial? Is it an cultural value that developed over centuries or
millennia of time? In a people constantly in the sun, how long would someone
last with pale skin versus in a people that lives in cold climates?
-- Ken from Chicago
Obveeus
"Ken from Chicago" <kwicker1...@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> "Obveeus" <Obv...@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:hgjtsh$rjb$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
>>
>> "Ken from Chicago" <kwicker1...@comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>>> And the OP was about subtle almost subliminal bias cues. The whole light
>>> skin vs dark skin is one that still happens, whether intentional or not.
>>> Try and name 3 African American couples ever on tv where the female is
>>> darker than the male--and if she is, then is she darker than a classic
>>> brown paper bag.
>>
>>
>> Girlfriends had several examples, I suppose. Then again, you would
>> discount Toni's relationship because she was married to a white guy and
>> you would likely discount Golden Brook's character because she wore
>> enough makeup that she looked lighter skinned that she really is, though
>> still darker than her husband on the show. For that matter, how many
>> women on TV don't wear makeup? For black women doesn't that makeup
>> almost always tend to lighten them slightly, just as for the white women
>> doesn't that makeup tends to darken them slightly? This is an issue for
>> set lighting rather than racial biases, IMO.
>
> That depends on the makeup and the makeup person. Many African American
> celebs often look lighter on some magazines than on magazines targetted to
> the African American demographic.
I was referring to film (TV), not still photos. When filming on a set, the
lighting tends to light everyone, so the makeup has to be done in a style
that will allow everyone to be picked up well on camera. The white folks
can't be 'blinding white' and the black folks can blend into the shadows.
So, the makeup people tends to aim all the cast at a more 'medium' darkness
so that the lighting will work on them all.