During the second half of this course, we have spent much of our time discussing practical examples of the denial human rights. Arguably, many of the human rights violations that come to mind, such as genocide and disenfranchisement, are rooted in prejudice. A newly published study offers some interesting insights into prejudice and stereotyping. The study tested a group of children with Williams Syndrome. Children with this neurodevelopmental disorder do not fear strangers and as a result are overly friendly. Researchers say that Williams Syndrome also prevents children from developing ethnic stereotypes. What is interesting, though, is that gender stereotypes persist in children with this disorder. The study's leader, Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg proclaims this to be "the first evidence that different forms of stereotypes are biologically dissociable" (Weaver 2010).
Those with Williams Syndrome exhibit abnormal activity in a part of the brain involved in responding to social threats and causing unconscious emotional reactions to people of other ethnic groups. While other studies have demonstrated the link between ethnic bias and fear, Meyer-Lindenberg says his study provides the strongest evidence to date.
I found the fact that ethnic bias is rooted in fear and social threats to be particularly interesting. Do you think this says anything about how societal insecurity and fear can lead to widespread human rights abuses? Also, what do you think of the study's conclusion about the difference between ethnic and gender stereotypes? Do you find this study's results to be encouraging or discouraging?
Saturday, April 24, 2010
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Thank you for this entry. You may also be interested in this anti-racism magazine!!.
ReplyDeleteI would say that societal insecurity is a major contributor to human rights abuses. More often than not it is the group that is deemed as "different" or "them" instead of "us" is the one targeted. Fear is also something that is learned, influenced by our different experiences. In this study it is interesting to see that by having Williams Syndrome, one does not develop fears of people different from them. Perhaps this part of the brain is damaged in a way that these fears cannot be absorbed.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why though that people with the syndrome still had gender stereotypes. Is it possible that this is affected by a different portion of the brain?