Curing racism

[SS-18 ICBM]

I'm highly skeptical of this.

The text of the study is available. Feel free to address parts that you didn't think were particularly rigorous.

Anyway, it's an interesting result, but possibly has no useful policy implications at the moment. Does the benefit of removing subconscious racism outweigh the financial costs and side-effects of the medication? The important findings are for neuroscience, which is what the researchers frame their discussion section about.

To conclude, the influence of propranolol on implicit attitudes observed in the present study may shed new light on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying implicit prejudice. Given the important role that implicit attitudes appear to play in overt forms of discrimination against out-group members, and the widespread use of propranolol for medical purposes, our findings might also be of practical interest, and require careful ethical consideration. Further research, however, is needed to clarify whether the observed effect would persist with sustained propranolol treatment, and whether propranolol can modulate implicit bias outside the laboratory.

 

[Yeekim]

It's more important to know why racism is wrong and to choose not to engage in it, than it is to not be racist in the first place. The latter occurs over the long run when people engage in the former.

Absolutely.

 

[warpus]

I'm not surprised we have a built in something that triggers racist thoughts - we are sort of wired to be weary of things that are different. Evolution shaped us that way.

 

[Josu]

I am very sketptikall about this pills, I belive that education is the only cure for racism

 

[ParadigmShifter]

I am very sketptikall about this pills, I belive that education is the only cure for racism

This.

Education is more expensive than giving idiots medication.

 

[NetGear]

Oxycotin does the same thing. Put that in the water supply instead.

 

[Bowsling]

It blocks off the amygdalae? Oh god.

The amygdalae it the reason that we, unlike our counterparts in the animal world, are not interested in eating feces and other revolting diet choices. So while it may prevent us from being racist, the drug may also induce us to do some crazy, stupid things.

On the plus side, it wouldn't hurt with Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich. Xenophobia seems to be the only thing that their amygdalae can handle anyway.

 

[CELTICEMPIRE]

On the plus side, it wouldn't hurt with Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich. Xenophobia seems to be the only thing that their amygdalae can handle anyway.

huh?

 

[Bowsling]

Aren't most crazy right-wing fundamentalist politicians like that racists anyway?

 

[Polycrates]

While it's certainly interesting, the effect isn't really super convincing or uniform (p=0.03 for control vs treated) to the extent that it is likely to offer any "worthwhile" real-world benefit, side-effects and creepiness aside. And since there was no difference in explicit racism, it's not really going to be useful as a Clockwork Orange-style treatment for offenders either.
More a fascinating springboard for further research than anything else, I think.

 

[BasketCase]

Research on what triggers certain attitudes might be useful though.

Research on kids too young to have picked up much from their parents (around four or five years old), has (unfortunately) shown that racism seems to be instinctive. Especially scary was the part where I watched a black kid being shown pictures of five cartoon kids (all precisely identical except for skin color). When asked which cartoon child was "least intelligent", the test subject (who was black) picked out the darkest cartoon kid.

 

[AlpsStranger]

Problem to whom? "Racist" is just code for white now anyway.
Their accusing 3 year olds of "racism."

*shakes fist* damn them. They know who they are!

I can't wait until the right wing goes completely Alex Jones.



Though, I suppose Obama did have the CIA/Illuminati murder Andrew Breitbart.

 

[Josu]

This.

Education is more expensive than giving idiots medication.

Ungly truth

However I think it is just more expensive in a narrow minded economical view

 

[vonbach]

Examination of the list of side effects for Propranolol reveals, among others: fatigue; hallucinations; lightheadedness, confusion, memory loss, and mental or mood changes (eg, depression). Now you can see how the drug prevents racism. It makes you confused, lightheaded, causes you forget. Perhaps you have hallucinations of racial harmony. That is to say it makes you stupid and crazy, and so more willing to believe Mass Media lies and propaganda, therefore you will be less racist!

So this stuff makes you confused, lightheaded, forgetful and makes you hallucinate?
Interesting so this stuff turns you into the average anti-fa?

 

[holy king]

yo.