Neurology

Overview: Explore the possible implications of social neuroscience research on stereotypes and prejudice

Briefly describe the issue of whether social categorization is an automatic or controlled form of cognition.
The results from a wide range of research with the IAT suggests that everyone is judgmental and biased against people from other social groups. Much of this bias is unconscious, so we aren’t even aware of our own biases. Do you agree with this view? Make an argument for your case.
If stereotypes and prejudice are entirely automatic brain processes, then maybe there isn’t much hope for overcoming racism and prejudice in our society. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
The He and colleagues article suggests that there is an early automatic component and a later controlled (more deliberate) component to social categorization. Does this seem like a plausible alternative to the view that social categorization is completely automatic? Is there an early biased component to our social thoughts and then a later editing of these biased thoughts to be more unbiased and fair to people from other groups?

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