Take Off Your Hoodie

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated that Black men are perceived to be more threatening than White men. Relatedly, public discourse suggests that respectable dress may reduce this perception. In this paper, we test whether professional attire reduces associations of threat with Black men. In three separate studies, participants completed a modified version of the Weapons Implicit Association Test (IAT). In Study 1, we tested whether Black men are associated with threat more than White men dressed in similar attire. In Study 2, we sought to test whether professional dress lessens the association between race and threat through intra-race comparisons. In Study 3, we assessed the perception of threat of Black men compared to White men when dressed in differing attire. Overall, findings indicate that participants associate Black men with threat more than White men, regardless of attire. Moreover, contrary to expectations, participants more strongly associate professional than casual dress with threat. The results have implications for public and scientific discourse regarding how contextual cues affect perceptions of Black men as threatening.

“Risk Mitigation: Preparation for Police Interaction”

“…Youth of color perceive police as abusive, non-responsive, and aggressive (Kerrison, Cobbina, and Bender 2018; Rengifo and Morgan 2017; Solis et al 2009). These experiences cannot be separated from the fact that children of color are often seen as less innocent, more threatening, more responsible for their actions, and older than they are (Alinor and Tinkler 2021; Correll et al 2002; Ferguson 2001; Goff et al 2014; Rios 2011).…”

Assessing the Causal Link between the COVID-19 Pandemic and Racial Discrimination

“…The stereotype content model also theorizes that groups evaluated higher in warmth and lower in competence (e.g., the elderly) are treated as lower status in society, invoking pity and sympathy. Although black Americans are often stereotyped as threatening and criminal (Alinor and Tinkler 2021; Sniderman and Piazza 1993), two narratives prominent in the media during the first year of the pandemic characterized them as victims: (1) the disproportionate negative health impact of COVID-19 on black Americans (see e.g., Gupta 2020) and (2) the 2020 police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man. In both cases, the media, politicians, and movement activists highlighted structural disadvantages and persistent racial biases against black Americans (Olin 2021; Olorunnipa and Witte 2020; Shah and Widjaya 2020).…”

Masking our emotions: Emotion recognition and perceived intensity differ by race and use of medical masks

“…For example, Black/Brown adults are five times more likely than White adults to report being unfairly stopped by police due to their race or ethnicity [10], and unarmed Black individuals are far more likely to be shot than unarmed White individuals [11]. Studies suggest Black/Brown individuals are stereotyped as aggressive and more threatening than White counterparts [12][13][14], even those who are 5 years old [15] or elderly [16]. There is also evidence that racial biases exist in the perception of pain, which may have implications for care in healthcare settings, where masks are frequently worn [17].…”