Anti-prejudice messages can increase prejudice: study | The Raw Story: Programs aimed at eradicating prejudice by authoritatively telling people not to discriminate against others may actually increase prejudices, according to research to be published in the scientific journal Psychological Science.
The results of the study suggest controlling anti-prejudice messages may actually be creating hostility toward the targets of prejudice.
'Controlling prejudice reduction practices are tempting because they are quick and easy to implement,' Lisa Legault, one of the study's authors, explained. 'They tell people how they should think and behave and stress the negative consequences of failing to think and behave in desirable ways. But people need to feel that they are freely choosing to be nonprejudiced, rather than having it forced upon them.'
