Recent research in psychology, neuroscience, and the social sciences has made huge strides in understanding how automatic processes in the brain shape our perceptions, our actions and our decision-making. Research also gives us insights into how we can override our biases to bring them more in line with our conscious values.
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Media, entertainment, and other forms of popular culture play a significant role in shaping our perceptions of others. For many of us, popular culture is the primary way we learn about people who are different from us. The problem, though, is that many representations are based on cultural stereotypes, which tend to marginalize and caricature members of nondominant groups. Through these representations, we see a limited, and distorted, view of others.
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Stereotyping and bias are universal human phenomena. No one is immune from the effects of implicit bias, racial anxiety, and stereotype threat. These phenomena have serious impacts on our decisions and on the way we treat each other in every sector of daily life.
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We believe in solutions. The problem of discrimination is a complicated one—operating on both structural and individual levels—but failure and tragedy are not inevitable. If people believe the problem of discrimination is intractable, they are less likely to engage in action. We are dedicated to raising awareness of and applying empirically tested solutions to real-world challenges.
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The nation’s attention is turned to the tragedies of losing Black lives. For people who share affinity with those whose lives have been lost, these experiences can be acutely reminiscent of abuse and harm that has transcended generations. For others, the conversation may be entirely new.
Many are wondering what to do – or where to start.
At Perception, we believe that Black Lives Matter and are committed to supporting the work to address systemic racism and structural oppression. We share insights and strategies from the mind sciences that serve to align interpersonal and institutional behaviors with values of equity.
We invite those who want to be part of the radical transformation of our society to join us.