THE PSYCHOLOGY OF RACISM - Understanding Racism With Psychology

[@peacefreedom4930]

Race is a social construct. Racism is a justification for cruel and inhumane treatment by one group of people on another. The justification allows for exploitation and/or elimination without confronting how evil the perpetrators are. The acts are atrocities against humanity that are excused by these false and baseless ideologies.

[@junebrat7]

To be honest, I was thinking about this one day.. "What would program somebody to hate another skin colour so much, to the point that they'd massacre a bunch of people of that skin?" I always knew the social side of racism, but with what's been going on recently (adding on to everything I've learned about this topic) I've been thinking that racism has to be something psychological or genetic. Genetic is probably a reach, but I was trying to make sense of it in my head.

[@sammartin2773]

It's nowhere that deep. Simply put it's demonic hatred spawned from fear.

[@redrizzla1989]

​@sammartin2773 that can come from a lack of education and or ability to think crtitically.

[@junebrat7]

@@sammartin2773 Well, this comment was two years ago, and I’ll just give an update on my stance. My initial conclusion that racism is psychological has only been confirmed exponentially with the recent events in Libya, Sudan, Congo, Palestine, the U.K., and the U.S. unfortunately. Racism is indeed a learned behavior likely formed from a discriminatory environment. But mental illness can also be applied to this because it's formed from an aspect of genetics & the environment affecting you. Another reason why I thought genetics could factor into racism is because of the concept of epigenetics. Extreme trauma is passed down generationally, and African Americans are a prime example of epigenetics on display: Generational trauma. The sl*very & bigotry was so insane and cruel that it left an imprint on an entire group of people, my people. Plus, because of the modern structural racism, our trauma only fosters & grows economically and in our own communities. It makes you wonder if this is true “in reverse”? Calling “Casual” prejudice an illness may be incorrect, but the violent, extreme, rapid racism that runs deep in the origins of society, to me, cannot be labeled anything but a destructive illness at this point. Racism happens and when one stops & thinks “Just why?” the answer will reference the origin of the bigotry, but even then, you're asking yourself “why?” because even back then, it doesn't make sense. You want sl=ves for labor, okay as many societies have wanted & had, but what is the reason to be viciously brutal and disgusting towards these specific humans? just for labor? But you took them from their home, you're already getting labor? Then you create structural oppression, policing, redlining, cr*ck epidemic, and then piles of generational trauma and racism in general and we’re back to the same question, “..why?”

[@fin4889]

Genuinely a really great video. I was worried that it would be very social justice oriented but this was very well put together and objectively scrutinised racism and not the social problem of racism. Excellent work.

[@GetPsyched]

Thanks so much, I really appreciate that

[@nicholasmatthew9687]

Yeah I wanted to second this. I really appreciate you bringing such an informed and unbiased perspective to the table. It’s so important that we have individuals like you producing content. We can fix anything about our world if we don’t understand who we are first.

[@Andrew_ISA_ChiefsFan]

I noticed that death (or you could also say, survival) appears to be a common denominator in many of these theories, whether based on fear, anxiety, the scarcity of resources or something else. Just my knee jerk reaction to start a conversation ;). Appreciate the content!

[@GetPsyched]

Andrew Leifer I think terror management theory may argue that to a degree. Perhaps more that fear of death, it’s fear in itself that fuels racism to a degree

[@D0ubtingThomas]

Very insightful! It would be good to understand the phycological effects of racism e.g. depression, paranoid schizophrenia etc.

[@HappyMomma412]

This would be wonderful!

[@ryanziller220]

You meant the negative psychological effects of non-racial or interracial attitudes.

[@D0ubtingThomas]

​@@ryanziller220it's implied it's negative by using the examples of depression and other mental illnesses

[@ryanziller220]

@@D0ubtingThomas I meant it's assumed. Racism is not inherently negative.

[@D0ubtingThomas]

@@ryanziller220 So when is racism positive?

[@toliveryoung6720]

The greatest gift in this life was being born into an interracial and loving family. My parents are literally Hobbits. Mom is 5'4, dad is 5'5 and they are the best and kindest humans that could of reared me. Im not under any tribal spell of black vs white. I see my Norse, Germanic and African ancestors as my own. I look and can see all of humanity in a lens of oneness because i dont subconsciously prioritize based on outer features.

[@dannina1280]

I understand and agree with everything you said about racism. I usually associate racism with tribalism. I wish the world is one big tribe but I think it's unrealistic and idealistic. Racism is so wrong that the discrimination is so generalized base on a person's ethnic or biological definition rather than on their behavior and thinking. I have a family member who is pretty racist and I knew it probably stems from low self-esteem.

[@benclarke3626]

Hats off mate, you shall write a book expanding wildly this object, I’d definitely buy

[@egx161]

We all have biases. If you don’t address and challenge them, you can get stuck believing things that aren’t true. If you’re surrounded by a group or in a group that shares racist views, you have a choice. Go along or leave, or push back, which can lead to ostracism. Certain people use skin color and culture to divide. Politicians are very good at this. Blaming others for our condition can drive racism. The struggle for limited resources or partners. It’s a simple but complex issue. Ignorance and fear are probably the root causes. Racism is learned. It’s taught and made clear in our media and everywhere we go. Look who holds all the powerful positions. Whiteness is held up as the ideal. Humans want to be with people like them but it can go too far.

[@rebeccamoise]

Hi! I'm starting a psychology blog that I'm hoping to launch at the end of April. Can I share this video on my blog?

[@nicholasmatthew9687]

You deserve so many more followers. I work in business development and might be able to help you achieve a bigger audience if you would ever like to have a discussion about your possibilities! Thanks again for all the great content dude seriously. I don’t normally broadcast my services like that, but I feel passionate about psychological education and awareness

[@GetPsyched]

Nicholas, thanks so much mate that's really kind of you. I would love to connect with you further for sure. Why don't you drop me an email at [e-mail]

[@elligilberg1564]

I hope you don’t take him down some evil business lane

[@asantahene]

This is a great video Fraser which I will be sharing to my FB page if that's ok. Thanks for this-very timely

[@GetPsyched]

Really means a lot Ben, really appreciate it. Yes by all means, that would be great

[@jmarch_503]

I'm at 4:50 and what you was explaining about denouncing others and improving status of group if you scale that up in complexity of a nation it's exactly what Hitler did

[@BrainsApplied]

Oooooooooooh, can we perhaps also have one about homophobia? :)

[@GetPsyched]

That would be a really interesting topic actually yeh

[@miracudrag]

The in group / out group theories are food for thought although social psychology is probably the least powerful of all. Talking about the replication crisis here. I've been inclined to understand racism so far, and as much as I do, from a similarity theory perspective. Similarity (actual or perceived) increases liking. I would think that differences in the colour of the skin would activate a strong perceived dissimilarity. This is why some people of colour also judge caucasians because they are white. The best intervention is the common goal indeed, I subscribe to that. It makes sense.

[@isabellind1292]

I wonder why some people think it's okay to label people racists, based solely on their perceptions. Former first lady Michelle Obama was talking about "racism" and a particular incident in which a woman butted in front of her in line, something that happens to all of us in our daily lives and something most of us chalk up to "rude customers" but because the woman happened to be white, Michelle labeled the woman a racist. Well, I don't know where she gets this sense of entitlement but she can no sooner have labeled the woman a racist as I could label a man who butted in front of me in line, a "misogynist" and in fact, what Michelle is doing is actually racist.

[@milkshakeplease4696]

It is a heart issue

[@ronaldtowers5420]

Please speak to this: What is the relationship between mental illness and racism? Do you agree or disagree with Adorno's theory that authoritarian personality might predispose a person towards very conservative ideas that support racism?

[@markthurst9751]

I have often wondered why white/black/hispanic/asian only towns aren't allowed. Racism isn't going away so why not give it a place away from everyone else?

[@PaulStevens-z8b]

Wouldn't that effectively be segregation?

[@markthurst9751]

@@PaulStevens-z8b what is wrong with segregation? If people want to segregate it should be allowed.

[@PaulStevens-z8b]

@@markthurst9751 If there are really people who want to segregate, and aren't being coerced of course, then fair enough. But racial segregation hasn't historically been a good thing. There can be advantages to segregation of course, but those advantages aren't guaranteed.

[@markthurst9751]

@@PaulStevens-z8b I believe segregation isn't allowed because it would reveal several truths that society doesn't want to see.

[@SuperSurvivor4]

So racism is based on a scarcity mindset.

[@supercommie]

I don't think that evolutionary psychology explanation for racism is a good explanation, because that way you are going to cause inbreeding because you would outlaw gene mixing between different groups, which is terribly bad for the species. I think if there was an evolutionary explanation for racism it would be that people from groups that you are not familiar with might carry diseases that you have no immunity to. Kind of how most Native American populations in North America were almost exterminated by smallpox even before Europeans got there. I think it's also telling that racists when they are describing groups they are racists against use words like "disgusting".

[@KS-wt9gj]

Talk about over thinking things. From our beginning of time racism existed. Understand it define it, fine. But it’s not going away, ever.

[@runningoutofideas2319]

That's it one big that lmao people don't get it though

[@runningoutofideas2319]

Is whatever didn't let you have kids in a row gets it lol 😆 house wife kids lol 😆

[@eagleeyemind4800]

The issue is usually having to do with scarce resources, in the case of race there's also a correlation with general IQ. Technology has also increased competitive markets to a worldwide scale, causing generally underachieving groups to see the increase in disparity that much more clearly

[@ryanziller220]

He barely knows anything.