The "Bad Is Black" Effect

First topic message reminder :

In 1994 Time magazine ran a controversial cover photo of O.J. Simpson’s mugshot that, to some readers, seemed to have been intentionally altered to make Simpson’s skin look darker than normal. Accompanied by the headline “An American Tragedy,” Time was criticized for manipulating Simpson’s appearance to make him seem menacing, and therefore more likely to be guilty of his accused crimes. People were so upset by the image that James Gaine, then the magazine’s managing editor, issued a public apology.

Recent research suggests that people do have a proclivity to perceive someone with darker skin as more likely to have committed an immoral act, regardless of the person’s race. Dubbing this tendency the “bad is black” effect, professor Adam Alter of New York University, along with three of his colleagues, conducted six studies showing a link between skin tone and perceptions of whether a person committed a criminal act.

In two initial studies, the researchers specifically looked at whether the media tends to run darker photographs of celebrities and politicians when writing about their transgressions. In one study, they created a database of online news articles about a set of highly popular White and Black celebrities, of both genders, during the time period 2011 through 2013. Trained research assistants coded a sample of the articles to determine whether the written content of each article was mostly negative, neutral, or positive. In addition, research assistants also coded the skin tone of the photograph accompanying each article on a scale ranging from dark to light. Since photographs can differ in a number of other important ways, the assistants also coded how well the photograph had been technically executed, for example, how fuzzy or clear the image appeared. In addition, they coded the overall quality of the celebrity’s physical appearance in the photo, such as how well-dressed and put-together they seemed. After statistically controlling for the ratings of quality of the image, the researchers discovered a relationship between the written content of an article and the skin tone in the accompanying photograph: Articles containing negative content were more likely to appear alongside darker colored photographs.

In another study, the researchers replicated these with a set of news articles about politicians. After compiling a list of Black and White members of Congress and Cabinet members from 1997 through 2014, research assistants similarly coded the written content of the articles as well as the accompanying photographs. Once again, after controlling for ratings of quality and appearance of the photograph, negative articles were more likely to be run alongside darker colored images. This was true regardless of the politician’s race or gender. Why would the media tend to choose darker photographs when writing about negative behavior? The answer may lie in a pervasive belief that darkness and badness tend to go together.

The researchers demonstrated this psychological link between darkness and badness by running several experiments where participants were asked to choose between headshots to identify a perpetrator. Online participants first examined two different grainy video surveillance images, alongside a brief sentence describing what the man in each image was doing either before or after the image was taken. For one image, they were told that the man had committed a virtuous act, such as risking his life to save someone, or establishing a charity for children. For the other image, they were told the man had committed an immoral act such as murder or abuse. After viewing each image and description, participants were shown two headshots of different men. One headshot had been artificially darkened and the other artificially lightened. Participants indicated which of the headshots represented the man who appeared in each surveillance image on a scale ranging from 1 (definitely Person A) to 6 (definitely Person B).

In addition to choosing between headshots, participants were asked to indicate the “color of the soul” of each man in the surveillance images. (“Soul color” could act as a metaphorical representation of how closely participants associate visual color with badness, apart from either skin tone or race.) Using a color spectrum ranging from black to white, participants clicked on the color shade that seemed to represent the color of the man’s soul who had committed the moral act as well as the color of the man’s soul who had committed the immoral act. Finally, the researchers measured participants’ racial attitudes through a separate survey. Participants were asked how warmly they felt towards White Americans as well as towards various dark skinned minorities, such as African Americans and Muslim Americans.

The researchers found that participants who held more negative attitudes towards darker skinned minorities, such as African Americans, were more likely to choose the darker photograph when asked who committed the immoral act. This finding in itself is perhaps unsurprising. A more startling pattern emerged when the researchers analyzed people’s headshot choices based on what “color” they thought the men’s souls were. Even after statistically controlling for participants’ racial attitudes, the researchers found that participants who thought the man who committed the immoral act had a darker colored soul were also more likely to think he had darker colored skin. In other words, regardless of race, dark skin was associated with evil in the minds of people who saw a link between darkness and badness.

Although psychologists have known for a long time that people associate dark skin with negative personality traits, this research shows that the reverse is also true: when we hear about an evil act, we are more likely to believe it was done by someone with darker skin. This “bad is black” effect may have its roots in our deep-seated human tendency to associate darkness with wickedness. Across time and cultures, we tend to portray villains as more likely to be active during nighttime and to don black clothing. Similarly, our heroes are often associated with daytime and lighter colors. These mental associations between color and morality may negatively bias us against people with darker skin tones. If this is true, it has far-reaching implications for our justice system. For example, eye witnesses to crimes may be more likely to falsely identify suspects who possess darker skin.

Overall, the “bad is black” effect only underscores the importance of finding ways to combat the various ways that our inherent biases can influence perceptions of guilt and innocence. Understanding the extent of these biases, as well as what may be causing them, represents an important first step.


https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-bad-is-black-effect/

veya_victaous wrote:

Major wrote:As people go through life and LEARN about it by listening and seeing they then make up their own minds on things so it is not a perception but knowledge.
If you are white and read, see masses of blacks, non whites doing things they should not or different to your people then you become against them as this is predominantly a white country, well, at the moment.
The reverse happens in a predominantly black country..
Do you not realise people of any race/colour do not want their country to be forcibly altered by foreigners, those who do are traitors IMHO.

The millions who come here, wanna come here cannot offer us anything really worthwhile we do not already have, they only TAKE FROM US, they should stay where they are and improve their own lot as we have by blood, sweat, tears and death.

Multiculturalism does NOT work and NEVER will, just look at the USA as a example.

Why will it never work, people do not want it.

A problem is so many people have lived a cocooned/sheltered life, lack worldwide, even local experiences of their own country.

I have told you many times black/ non whites live different to us in so many ways, you only have to tour Coventry, Brum, Luton, Dewsbury, Barnsley and loads and loads mores and observe.

Please debate as per your sagacious leaders edict, not insult and attack.  

It works down here

your just a cowardly geranium that's all

May I I bring to your attention, the following.

Ben states.
NewsFix is a forum that encourages polite, civil debate of current events and ideas. Sign upif you're interested! 



A geranium is useful, YOU are not.

Syl wrote:

eddie wrote:This will damn near break your heart




It's not the only experiment of its kind.

Y
I wish I hadn't watched that, it was really upsetting.
Those children had somehow been conditioned to think black was bad...yet the black kids identified with the black doll, so inwardly they think they are bad, unattractive, not as good etc .
Am I fooling myself into thinking the outcome would be different if the experiment was done in the UK?

All I know is over half a century ago I loved my black doll.......if anyone had asked me back then if she was bad or not pretty I would have thought they were blind.

As I said above, my daughter also has black dolls (chosen by her) and doesn't think of them any differently to her other dolls.
Racism isn't something we are born with.

They didn't ask many white children which doll they preferred though, and they didn't ask the black children where they got the idea that the black doll was "bad" from.

Raggamuffin wrote:They didn't ask many white children which doll they preferred though, and they didn't ask the black children where they got the idea that the black doll was "bad" from.

They did actually, I suggest you watch the video again

Thorin wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:They didn't ask many white children which doll they preferred though, and they didn't ask the black children where they got the idea that the black doll was "bad" from.

They did actually, I suggest you watch the video again

They did what? They asked one white child, and they didn't ask any of them where they got the idea that the black doll was bad.

Raggamuffin wrote:

Thorin wrote:


They did actually, I suggest you watch the video again

They did what? They asked one white child, and they didn't ask any of them where they got the idea that the black doll was bad.

You clearly did not watch the whole video, as they often ask why they choose

Thorin wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

They did what? They asked one white child, and they didn't ask any of them where they got the idea that the black doll was bad.

You clearly did not watch the whole video, as they often ask why they choose

They didn't ask them where they got their ideas from though, they merely asked why they thought the black doll was bad.

Raggamuffin wrote:

Thorin wrote:


You clearly did not watch the whole video, as they often ask why they choose

They didn't ask them where they got their ideas from though, they merely asked why they thought the black doll was bad.

So you now admit they did ask them.

Holy crap on a cracker

The reasons aren't immediately important. What the video shows is that they instinctively named the black doll as "bad".

eddie wrote:The reasons aren't immediately important. What the video shows is that they instinctively named the black doll as "bad".

How do you know it was instinctive?

Thorin wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

They didn't ask them where they got their ideas from though, they merely asked why they thought the black doll was bad.

So you now admit they did ask them.

Holy crap on a cracker

No. They asked them why the black doll was bad, and they said it was because it was black. Nobody asked them what made them think the doll was bad just because it was black.

Raggamuffin wrote:

eddie wrote:The reasons aren't immediately important. What the video shows is that they instinctively named the black doll as "bad".

How do you know it was instinctive?

What makes you think it wasn't? That's the doll they immediately chose when the word "bad" was used. Not sure what you're failing to grasp, rags.

eddie wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

How do you know it was instinctive?

What makes you think it wasn't?  That's the doll they immediately chose when the word "bad" was used. Not sure what you're failing to grasp, rags.

What you're failing to grasp is that someone might have put the idea into their head that black was bad. What we don't know is who did that. Are you suggesting that people instinctively think that black people are bad? That includes black people themselves?

Of course someone put it on their head! Parents, media, cartoons, children's TV, schools......???!

eddie wrote:Of course someone put it on their head! Parents, media, cartoons, children's TV, schools......???!

Well then it's not instinctive is it? It would be interesting to know where they got their ideas from. If it's from their own parents, that would be a bit weird.

Blackbeard The Pirate.

Black Hole Of Calcutta

Black Hole

Black Rod

Raggamuffin wrote:

eddie wrote:Of course someone put it on their head! Parents, media, cartoons, children's TV, schools......???!

Well then it's not instinctive is it? It would be interesting to know where they got their ideas from. If it's from their own parents, that would be a bit weird.

I can explain that becasue I've had it explained to me: some black parents warn their children that they may have to try a little harder etc becasue of skin colour (the black girl who told me this disagrees with that idea though I must add) and they will teach their children about slavery or their heritage.
My friend also stated that she thinks that's wrong becasue it perpetuates racism in a way (black on white) and that teaching children from a young age that's they're somehow "disadvantaged" is totally silly.

I wish she would join here - she would be a real asset to the place.

eddie wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

Well then it's not instinctive is it? It would be interesting to know where they got their ideas from. If it's from their own parents, that would be a bit weird.

I can explain that becasue I've had it explained to me: some black parents warn their children that they may have to try a little harder etc becasue of skin colour (the black girl who told me this disagrees with that idea though I must add) and they will teach their children about slavery or their heritage.
My friend also stated that she thinks that's wrong becasue it perpetuates racism in a way (black on white) and that teaching children from a young age that's they're somehow "disadvantaged" is totally silly.

I wish she would join here - she would be a real asset to the place.

I agree with your friend.

Raggamuffin wrote:

eddie wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

Well then it's not instinctive is it? It would be interesting to know where they got their ideas from. If it's from their own parents, that would be a bit weird.

I can explain that becasue I've had it explained to me: some black parents warn their children that they may have to try a little harder etc becasue of skin colour (the black girl who told me this disagrees with that idea though I must add) and they will teach their children about slavery or their heritage.
My friend also stated that she thinks that's wrong becasue it perpetuates racism in a way (black on white) and that teaching children from a young age that's they're somehow "disadvantaged" is totally silly.

I wish she would join here - she would be a real asset to the place.

I agree with your friend.

I thought you might. Not sure I do, and I did have a bit of a debate with her about it (she's a great debater) but she sort of made sense and is quite a forward-thinking woman.

She reads here quite often.

eddie wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

I agree with your friend.

I thought you might. Not sure I do, and I did have a bit of a debate with her about it (she's a great debater) but she sort of made sense and is quite a forward-thinking woman.

She reads here quite often.  

I don't hold with teaching anyone that they're a victim or that they will be perceived as "bad", especially at such a young age. It could blight their whole life.

I agree with Rags and Eddies friend.
Children should be brought up to know they are equal. Whether they be black, gay, poor, handicapped in some way....whatever.
If they are told to expect hostility or failure because of the way others see them, it's putting as big a barrier in front of them as if they ARE actually discriminated against....and they may never be, God willing.

You may have misunderstood me as I typed a quick reply due to a cooking fiasco.

These children are not taught that they're NOT equal, they're very much taught they ARE and to reiterate that point, the parents may explain, (simply or according to age), the reasons WHY they may come upon obstruction.  Also, lots of children get to an age where colour of the skin is brought up in school for one reason or another, and the parent has to explain colour difference to a child who hasn't previously come across this concept before.

My daughter is five. She can see that people have different skin colours but to her, it's the same as people who have different hair colour, or use a different language, (we spend a lot of time with a Greek family for an example and I have a very good Bulgarian friend), but these are many differences in her little life that she doesn't bat an eyelid about. One day though, the topic of colour will arise (possibly due to racism or perhaps due to a classroom or playground discussion) and she will then become aware.  

Hope that made sense.

Yes it makes sense.
I always worked on the theory that when kids ask questions...that's the time to explain, and as simply as possible.

Different topic but for eg If they ask where do babies come from....don't go into all the sexual manoeuvers of the hows and whys, just say' Mummys tummy' ....then rush off to do the washing up or something, that's probably all they wanted to know at that time anyway.

Syl wrote:Yes it makes sense.
I always worked on the theory that when kids ask questions...that's the time to explain, and as simply as possible.

Different topic but for eg If they ask where do babies come from....don't go into all the sexual manoeuvers of the hows and whys, just say' Mummys tummy' ....then rush off to do the washing up or something, that's probably all they wanted to know at that time anyway.

My daughter informed me she isn't getting married or having children cos she's going to run off to the circus..... I think she must know it all already.

eddie wrote:

Syl wrote:Yes it makes sense.
I always worked on the theory that when kids ask questions...that's the time to explain, and as simply as possible.

Different topic but for eg If they ask where do babies come from....don't go into all the sexual manoeuvers of the hows and whys, just say' Mummys tummy' ....then rush off to do the washing up or something, that's probably all they wanted to know at that time anyway.

My daughter informed me she isn't getting married or having children cos she's going to run off to the circus..... I think she must know it all already.

She will change her mind when she discovers boys.

Syl wrote:

eddie wrote:

Syl wrote:Yes it makes sense.
I always worked on the theory that when kids ask questions...that's the time to explain, and as simply as possible.

Different topic but for eg If they ask where do babies come from....don't go into all the sexual manoeuvers of the hows and whys, just say' Mummys tummy' ....then rush off to do the washing up or something, that's probably all they wanted to know at that time anyway.

My daughter informed me she isn't getting married or having children cos she's going to run off to the circus..... I think she must know it all already.

She will change her mind when she discovers boys.

Yes, and then life becomes full of complicated heartbreaks and dramas.

eddie wrote:

Syl wrote:



She will change her mind when she discovers boys.

Yes, and then life becomes full of complicated heartbreaks and dramas.

Love and grandkids follow though...so it's not all bad.
I was a nana when I was a couple of years older than you are now Eddie....think on.

I used to admire the black actors/entertainers of bygone years, I can name loads of them.

Major wrote:

veya_victaous wrote:

Major wrote:As people go through life and LEARN about it by listening and seeing they then make up their own minds on things so it is not a perception but knowledge.
If you are white and read, see masses of blacks, non whites doing things they should not or different to your people then you become against them as this is predominantly a white country, well, at the moment.
The reverse happens in a predominantly black country..
Do you not realise people of any race/colour do not want their country to be forcibly altered by foreigners, those who do are traitors IMHO.

The millions who come here, wanna come here cannot offer us anything really worthwhile we do not already have, they only TAKE FROM US, they should stay where they are and improve their own lot as we have by blood, sweat, tears and death.

Multiculturalism does NOT work and NEVER will, just look at the USA as a example.

Why will it never work, people do not want it.

A problem is so many people have lived a cocooned/sheltered life, lack worldwide, even local experiences of their own country.

I have told you many times black/ non whites live different to us in so many ways, you only have to tour Coventry, Brum, Luton, Dewsbury, Barnsley and loads and loads mores and observe.

Please debate as per your sagacious leaders edict, not insult and attack.  

It works down here

your just a cowardly geranium that's all

May I I bring to your attention, the following.

Ben states.
NewsFix is a forum that encourages polite, civil debate of current events and ideas. Sign upif you're interested! 



A geranium is useful, YOU are not.

Major next racist post YOU ARE BANNED
cause as you point out YOU are not civilized in anyway shape or form.

Stating Multiculturalism doesn't work, When it clearly does in civilized nations will get you banned too.

eddie wrote:
The reasons aren't immediately important. What the video shows is that they instinctively named the black doll as "bad".

THEY didn't act "instinctively"...

Instincts are something that animals are born with..

Humans are not an "instinctive" animal.


Racism is not instinctive.
Reacting to skin, hair or eye colour is not "instinctive".

It is a learned behaviour, pure and simple..          

WhoseYourWolfie wrote:

eddie wrote:
The reasons aren't immediately important. What the video shows is that they instinctively named the black doll as "bad".

THEY didn't act "instinctively"...

Instincts are something that animals are born with..

Humans are not an "instinctive" animal.


Racism is not instinctive.
Reacting to skin, hair or eye colour is not "instinctive".

It is a learned behaviour, pure and simple..          

Yes I appreciate that, I'm not sure what I meant then...? They "automatically" chose?

How can stating that multiculturalism doesn't work be a banning offence? it's just an opinion and it's not against the rules.

firstly...black is seen as bad for a very simple (and primitive) reason, which ben touched on.

when its dark we cant see...and also (and more importantly (think "cave man" )...its when the most dangerous predators are out and about. they can see/small us...we cant see/smell them ....resultant knocking of knees......

and it IS programmed into us...well most of YOU peasants...I can rationalise away from that....and I'm a creature of the night anyway....but there it is we is scared of the dark for a good biological reason like staying alive

same reason as the vomit reflex....you know...... your mate chucks up...so you do as well....primitive response..your cave man mate might have eaten something bad...and therefore so did you.......... HUEYYYYYYYY

Secondly....I give up.....
I'm sick to death of your idiotic racist agenda Major.......and totally irritated beyond belief by your small minded refusal to see that what you post as "fact" is merely hyped up propaganda to which you have applied no thought......