Consciously egalitarian values fail to prevent racially disparate behavior

Evidence

Across the country, police departments, prosecutors’ offices, the criminal defense bar, and judges are engaging in “implicit bias trainings” and other professional development devoted to increasing fairness (Maryfield, 2018). Some of these programs are clearly a response to public pressure or legal mandates (Edwards, 2016). As a result, there may be skepticism that any of these efforts are genuinely inspired by a call from within to ensure equal treatment across racial and ethnic lines. It may seem as though the actual desire to treat people equally should be enough for fairness in decision-making and behavior. Robust social science research supports the argument that even those who hold consciously egalitarian values are at risk of engaging in behavior that exacerbates rather than lessens racially disparate outcomes (Kang et al., 2011). — Joseph Avery, Jim Sidanius, Joel Cooper, Gregory Davis, Amanda N., Bias in the Law, 1350 (#expands, via linked claim)

Explaining away inconsistent evidence can be challenging and requires a vigilance that may be taxing to social perceivers. An alternative strategy is to accept negative beliefs about outgroup members as valid while simultaneously viewing oneself as egalitarian and fair-minded. Because these views are likely to collide, Allport suggested that people who use this type of strategy would need to alternate between their conflicting views of outgroup members. Indeed, Allport suggested that this was likely the most common strategy used to address the threat of inner conflict because it allowed people to maintain a fair and just self-concept yet still respond in prejudiced ways. Using this strategy, people vacillate between their egalitarian values and their prejudiced beliefs based on situational factors that make one or the other salient. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2096 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Avowals of egalitarianism signal hidden prejudice even under conservative tests — Drew S. Jacoby-Senghor and Michael Rosenblum and N. Derek Brown, Not all egalitarianism is created…, 87; Explicit racial appeals fail to shift welfare support whereas implicit racial cues succeed. — Rachel Wetts and Robb Willer, Who Is Called by the Dog Whistle?…, 78; Implicit racial appeals drive welfare opposition through reduced deservingness perceptions — Rachel Wetts and Robb Willer, Who Is Called by the Dog Whistle?…, 168 (+20 more)

Broader Connections

• Even people with consciously egalitarian values act in ways that worsen racial disparities. #expands (0.95) — Joseph Avery, Jim Sidanius, Joel Cooper, Gregory Davis, Amanda N., Bias in the Law, 1350
• Egalitarian intentions do not prevent biased behavior without interventions #expands (0.92)
• People alternately vacillate between egalitarian values and prejudiced beliefs #complicates (0.72) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2096