This week’s inclusion in neuroscience discussion focused on research by Catherine A. Cottrell and Steven L. Neuberg on Different Emotional Reactions to Different Groups. The article primarily suggested that conceptualizing prejudice as a singular attitude is actually problematic due to the wide range of emotions truly included in being prejudice towards different groups.

“…we believe that there is great value in contemplating seriously Allport’s more textured observation—that just as people may hold qualitatively distinct beliefs about different groups, they may feel qualitatively distinct emotions towards different groups.”  
-Cottrell & Neuberg (2005)

 This article evoked many different conversations through the meeting, ranging from discussions on how we collect potentially biased information as well as social changes that need to be made as a means of addressing prejudice, that way we can eliminate it in as many settings as possible.
One lab member questioned the methodology of this specific research article due to the fact that they primarily used surveys to collect data from participants. The two hundred thirty-five participants were given questionnaire packets in which they rated a set of nine groups: activist feminists, African Americans, Asian Americans, European Americans, fundamentalist Christians, gay men, Mexican Americans, Native Americans, and non-fundamentalist Christians. Groups were chosen based on their potential to pose a range of threats to the participants’ ethnic in-group which was primarily European American.

The question here is whether researchers should rely solely on surveys to answer questions that are easily skewed due to personal biases. For example, if someone knows they have a prejudice, most people may tend to be defensive about it—therefore not being truthful in the survey and skewing data. We do not suggest fully doing away with survey-based data collection, only doing away with primarily relying on survey data as opposed to a variety of different measures to ensure validity of the study and its’ results.
Aside from the methods of this study, we primarily focused our discussion on tying the results of this article into ways that we can improve social injustices caused by prejudice. The research shows that when an out-group is seen to gain in-group economic resources, damage in-group property, diminish freedoms and rights provided to in-group members, etc. are interfering with the established in-group norms and social coordination. This is where prejudice tends to come into play, when in-group members feel the need to re-establish their group’s norms onto other groups that seem to be a threat.
Awareness and education seem to be the most agreed upon methods for decreasing the levels of prejudice we see in our every-day society. Listed below are some ways that our lab members suggested doing so:

• Emphasize listening to minority groups rather than expecting them to be infinitely patient as we take our time adapting to a more socially aware society
• Discontinue allowing excuses to be made for things we all know are wrong; holding those in our own groups accountable even if it is uncomfortable
• Connect past to present situations and disrupt the pattern so that our future may produce different outcomes

The world is at our fingertips. Every day we are being made more and more aware of what is and is not acceptable to say or do because, as a society, we are trying to change for the better. The best way to do this is to address our prejudices, identify where they stem from rather than excusing them, and work to help those around us grow while also being open to hearing the experiences of other minority groups.
 

During this pride month the Brain Research Across Development Laboratory would like to uplift one of its queer research assistants: Joshua H.
 
“Being a part of the Brain Research Across Development Laboratory has been so informative, fun, and dynamic for me. I think that as a queer person I have felt more comfortable here than in any other work environment that I’ve been in. Our weekly SIG discussions about intersectionality, diversity, and inclusion have had a great impact on making me feel safe to be who I am. While not everyone in the lab is the most educated on queer topics, I have come to understand and experience their desire to learn more about my community. In addition to the weekly meetings, I have also had several conversations with our lab manager, Victoria Ward, and our lab P.I., Caitlin Hudac, about my gender expression and gender identity that have left me feeling that this was a safe, inclusive, and genuine environment in which I could be myself. I cannot speak for other queer members in our lab, but I did want to highlight the ways in which I have viewed safe spaces being intertwined within this lab.
 
In other environments that I have worked in it felt as if my job was on the line if I expressed my gender or sexuality in a way that made other people uncomfortable. By that I mean that other people's comfortability with me and how I lived my life decided my tips, how I was treated or perceived by my coworkers, and how valuable I would be viewed as a worker. It is nice to work in an environment where that is not the case and I can feel valued and respected in my gender and sexuality. Taking the time in one's lab to talk about LGBTQIA+ topics and how they might come up in one’s participants and research is an important part of recognizing all communities. Representation is more than what someone sees on screen. Representation is also about how one sees others just like them being treated and uplifted in different environments. I would also like to say that while I do appreciate how inclusive the field of psychology has gotten it has a long way to go when it comes to POC transgender women and men. They are the reason that pride exists and it doesn’t feel right to celebrate this month without recognizing their contributions and how they have been neglected by this field. Everyone deserves to feel seen and respected by this field and I am not always sure that practitioners or researchers always do the best job at this. With that being said, I do appreciate the spotlight I have been given this month for pride and I hope I expressed how deeply appreciative I am of this lab and everyone in it for their openness and empathy.”