The Newtonian psychologists

How mental health professionals can address disparities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“…They attributed differences in intelligence to biology and race, discounting important differences in environmental conditions and asserted biological superiority when differences by class and race were observed (Martschenko, 2017; Washington et al, 2016). These terms were also found in reports by mental health professionals to justify racial segregation, restricted immigration policies, institutionalization, and the forced sterilization of thousands of impoverished people of color in 31 U.S. states until as recently as 1977 (Greenwood, 2017; Severson, 2011). Intelligence testing has also been used to justify the prohibition of racial mixing or interracial marriages (i.e., miscegenation) between Whites and people of color (Greenwood, 2017), a practice that was often illegal and could be punishable by death via lynching (Martschenko, 2017; Washington, 2008).…”

“…These terms were also found in reports by mental health professionals to justify racial segregation, restricted immigration policies, institutionalization, and the forced sterilization of thousands of impoverished people of color in 31 U.S. states until as recently as 1977 (Greenwood, 2017; Severson, 2011). Intelligence testing has also been used to justify the prohibition of racial mixing or interracial marriages (i.e., miscegenation) between Whites and people of color (Greenwood, 2017), a practice that was often illegal and could be punishable by death via lynching (Martschenko, 2017; Washington, 2008). Clinicians used these tests more to confirm notions of inferiority that further marginalized people of color (Medlock et al, 2016; Olsen, 2017; Williams & Mohammed, 2013) than to identify potential talent or to improve the educational or social status of a person of color (Martschenko, 2017).…”

“…Many of these historical periods were borne out of or supported by the Eugenics movement. The Eugenics movement, supported by some psychologists, impacted social, educational, housing, immigration, and labor policies to separate and protect people from “undesirables” (Greenwood, 2017; Washington et al, 2016). Eugenics-era policies created suspicion among marginalized populations, causing them to suppress their symptoms and not seek health care due to fundamental mistrust in the government and in health care institutions (Jones, 2015).…”