Martin Luther King Day 2008: Experts Available To Discuss The Psychology Of Racism, Stereotyping, Social Change

Main Category: Psychology / Psychiatry
Article Date: 18 Jan 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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While Martin Luther King Day is a day on which to celebrate the life and achievements of a great civil rights leader, it is also a day to reflect upon how far our nation has to go to end the scourge of racism and for discussing means to change associated attitudes and behaviors. Psychology plays a key role in explaining the underlying reasons for racism and how to develop strategies for long-lasting social change. In addition, psychology can help explain the impact of bias and stereotyping on people, their health and general well-being.

Experts and Topics:

Rebecca Bigler, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Bigler can speak about gender role development; racial attitudes in children; the formation of social stereotypes in children.

James M. Jones, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Delaware. Dr. Jones can speak on the cultural psychology of African-Americans. He has published several books and articles on the psychological implications of prejudice and racism, including Prejudice and Racism; A Compelling Interest: Weighing the Evidence on Racial Dynamics in Higher Education (2004); and Reflecting on the Nature of Prejudice (2004).

His articles have appeared in the Journal of Black Psychology, the Journal of Social Issues, Applied and Preventive Psychology and the Journal of Social Behavior and Personality.

Dr. Jones is available from Saturday, Jan. 18 onward.

Jennifer Manly, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Neuropsychology, Columbia University. Dr. Manly can speak on how race and culture affect behavior, stereotypes, and world view, and how neuropsychological tests are not as accurate when used to diagnose cognitive impairment in African-Americans.

Vickie M. Mays, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Psychology, University of California-Los Angeles. Dr. Mays can speak about how racism is related to stress and poor health among African-Americans. Her research has shown how racial discrimination may be a key factor in explaining why African-Americans have higher rates of obesity and suffer at higher rates from such diseases as diabetes and cardiovascular disorders.

The American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC, is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world's largest association of psychologists. APA's membership includes more than 148,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting health, education and human welfare.

American Psychological Association

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