Benign Bigotry
The Psychology of Subtle Prejudice

Explore subtle prejudices, debunk myths, and discover strategies to reduce bias within each chapter of this insightful revised edition.

Kristin J. Anderson (Author)

9781009244060, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 5 December 2024

344 pages
23.5 x 15.9 x 2.4 cm, 0.63 kg

‘In this timely book, Anderson helps us understand the causes of covert or subtle prejudice. Even more importantly, this book provides us with the necessary information to make changes to reduce prejudice in our everyday lives based on empirical evidence. Anderson is a skilled science communicator who makes the scientific literature accessible to all. This book should be required reading for anyone concerned with creating a more just and fair society.’ Harriet Tenenbaum, Professor in Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Surrey, UK

Benign Bigotry delves into the multifaceted landscape of prejudice, spanning academic and scientific research, popular culture, and contemporary politics. At its core lies the concept of subtle prejudice-a pervasive, often unconscious bias in race, gender, and sexuality. Through meticulous analysis and the author's own experience serving eight years on the Police Oversight Board, this book exposes seven seemingly harmless cultural myths that perpetuate inequality. It also confronts prejudices against women and LGBTQ+ individuals, offering concrete strategies to dismantle entrenched beliefs. Designed as a textbook for undergraduate and graduate classes, yet accessible to the educated lay reader, each chapter caters to those interested in psychology, sociology, business, and education. With a valuable new chapter on systemic inequality, updated real-life examples, and engaging with the exploration of empirical research on discrimination and prejudice emerging since 2009, this second edition is not to be missed.

Introduction: changing prejudice: a migration underground
1. 'It's just a few bad apples': the denial of systemic inequality
2. 'Those people all look alike': the myth of the other
3. 'They must be guilty of something': myths of criminality
4. 'Feminists are manhaters': backlash mythmaking
5. 'LGBTQ people flaunt their sexuality': the myth of hypersexuality
6. 'I'm not a racist, i'm colorblind': the myth of neutrality
7. 'Affirmative action is reverse racism': the myth of merit
Conclusion: now what?

Subject Areas: Social, group or collective psychology [JMH]