Anti-prejudice messages increase bigotry - opinions?

Question

Organizations and programs have been set up all over the globe in the hopes of urging people to end prejudice. According to a research article, which will be published in an upcoming issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, such programs may actually increase prejudices.
In experiment one; participants were randomly assigned one of two brochures to read: an autonomy brochure or a controlling brochure. These brochures discussed a new campus initiative to reduce prejudice. A third group was offered no motivational instructions to reduce prejudice. The authors found that, ironically, those who read the controlling brochure later demonstrated more prejudice than those who had not been urged to reduce prejudice. Those who read the brochure designed to support personal motivation showed less prejudice than those in the other two groups.
In experiment two, participants were randomly assigned a questionnaire, designed to stimulate personal or controlling motivation to reduce prejudice. The authors found that those who were exposed to controlling messages regarding prejudice reduction showed significantly more prejudice than those who did not receive any controlling cues.

find out more here - if you can be bothered :)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110707151445.htm


all i can say is hahaha what now for the Anti-Nazi League etc.?

Answer 1

The moment you try to stifle free-will by whatever means you will often get a backlash its inevitable.



when you combine propaganda with coercion and persuasion to manipulate a persons freedom to choose a desired result you often get the very opposite to what you want.



Persuading or coercing people to do something is one thing, persuading or coercing people to think something however is completely different,,, human being are stubborn creatures, they will often do the very opposite to what is best through stubbornness.



Just leave em to their own devices and let em get on with it by seeing the world as it really is and not how some people would like em to see it.

Answer 2

I think you hit the nail on the head. It really is bigotry. Unfortunately, it's going to take an angry mob burning down a Catholic church with the people still inside, or a resurgence of lynch mobs - now targeting priests - to get people to realize what they're doing. I play rugby. I even broke my arm playing the game. I've taken a full ride on a tazer and stayed standing. And I was tormented every day by my classmates in grade school for reasons I still don't understand, and have not cried from any of that. But this relentless assault, and mockery, belittlement, and people constantly assuming the worst about all things Catholic, and then piling it on even more every time someone asks them to let up or even just use more tact so as to be less offensive - this has made me cry repeatedly. I am not suicidal, but many, MANY people have committed suicide because of what has been said to them over the internet - and people know this, and yet do not let up. It is almost as if they WANT Catholics to suffer and become depressed and hurt themselves. It is truly despicable. Dare I say, possibly even worse than the sexual abuse itself because unlike the sexual abuse, the intent is sadistic - to harm another person in any way possible. I can only hope those internet bullying laws get passed soon. I know it won't do much, but maybe it will help some.

Answer 3

Perhaps showing people the 'controlling' anti-prejudice brochure reminds them of what they 'hate' about other cultures. A better way would be to allow people to integrate - not put certain cultures in particular areas of the town/city. We can all learn from each other.

Answer 4

People are sick of being told what they can and can't think. Most people are quite tolerant and accepting until they are told that acceptance is the only option they are allowed and then they rebel.

Answer 5

I take it these 'programmes' are aimed at the racist black and Asian immigrant's. There is no such thing as multiculturalism in these islands and never will be. It exists only in the minds of blinkered do gooders, living in the leafy shires of England.

Answer 6

I've been saying that for years, political correctness and positive discrimination fuel resentment, if you stick a label on a group and keep shouting about their rights you highlight the differences.



People are far more prejudiced nowadays than they have ever been!

Answer 7

yes

Answer 8

Opinion? You're over your head.