A systemic approach to the psychology of racial bias within individuals and society

Abstract

Historically, the field of psychology has focused on racial biases at an individual level, considering the effects of various stimuli on individual racial attitudes and biases. This approach has provided valuable information, but not enough focus has been placed on the systemic nature of racial biases. In this Review, we examine the bidirectional relation between individual-level racial biases and broader societal systems through a systemic lens. We argue that systemic factors operating across levels — from the interpersonal to the cultural — contribute to the production and reinforcement of racial biases in children and adults. We consider the effects of five systemic factors on racial biases in the USA: power and privilege disparities, cultural narratives and values, segregated communities, shared stereotypes and nonverbal messages. We discuss evidence that these factors shape individual-level racial biases, and that individual-level biases shape systems and institutions to reproduce systemic racial biases and inequalities. We conclude with suggestions for interventions that could limit the effects of these influences and discuss future directions for the field.

Studying personality and social structure

“…People learn social structures and subsequently reenact or challenge them, in the process reinforcing or changing the larger social structure. Changing a social structure, thus, requires changing individuals (See Hamedani et al, 2023; Madva et al., 2023; Skinner‐Dorkenoo et al., 2023, for similar perspectives.). Structural reforms, like policies, programs, or laws, require individual buy‐in.…”

Institutional interactions and racial inequality in policing: How everyday encounters bridge individuals, organizations, and institutions

“…In recent years, social psychologists have drawn attention to limitations of the translational model in describing, explaining, and addressing racial disparities. This approach has tended to emphasize individual-level processes and neglect systemic (Adams & Salter, 2010;Skinner-Dorkenoo et al, 2023) and historical (Trawalter et al, 2022) dimensions of racial inequality. Others question the extent to which the mechanisms identified in lab-based research on bias are the same forces which guide behavior in applied contexts (Cesario, 2022).…”

The construction of racial stereotypes and how they serve as racial propaganda

“…Failing to foreground this history allows the stereotype that Black people cannot swim to cover for the longstanding systemic racism-racial oppression that is maintained through the policies and practices that make up an organization or society-that truly explains racial disparities in swimming and drowning rates (Hastings et al, 2006). As illustrated by the aforementioned example, the standard orientation toward stereotypes ignores the impact of the societal systems that people inhabit on the development of their racial biases and stereotypes (Payne et al, 2017;Payne & Hannay, 2021;Payne & Vuletich, 2018;Salter et al, 2018;Skinner-Dorkenoo et al, 2023). However, there is growing recognition of the impact that systemic factors-such as what group holds the power and privilege and the cultural narratives they create-on the racial biases and group prototypes that individual members of society hold (Lei et al, 2023;Skinner-Dorkenoo et al, 2023).…”

“…As illustrated by the aforementioned example, the standard orientation toward stereotypes ignores the impact of the societal systems that people inhabit on the development of their racial biases and stereotypes (Payne et al, 2017;Payne & Hannay, 2021;Payne & Vuletich, 2018;Salter et al, 2018;Skinner-Dorkenoo et al, 2023). However, there is growing recognition of the impact that systemic factors-such as what group holds the power and privilege and the cultural narratives they create-on the racial biases and group prototypes that individual members of society hold (Lei et al, 2023;Skinner-Dorkenoo et al, 2023).…”