HEALTH PLUS:MOST PEOPLE like to construe themselves as free of racism, prejudice or other unacceptable intolerances. Yet research shows the extent to which, ever so unconsciously, people harbour bigotries that they would vehemently deny, writes MARIE MURRAY
This is the problem with prejudice – a problem that is not named, acknowledged and accepted cannot be addressed.
We cannot change what we do not know we have. We cannot fix what we do not know is broken.
There are a number of bigotries that reveal themselves, and what we say often conceals hidden fears. For at the heart of xenophobia or any other rejection of any other marginal group is fear: a morbid fear of others who are different, in appearance, culture, class, colour, intellect, orientation or interest. Our predisposition to prejudice becomes apparent when times are hard, resources are scarce and anxiety is high.
There is no social group, no race, no country or continent that is exempt from racism. Racist discrimination and xenophobic feelings increase as economic prosperity decreases.
Research shows that prejudice and racism begin as early as three years of age when attitudinal patterns are being formed. Children begin to identify themselves as part of a group at a very young age.
It does not take long for children to suss if they are “in” or “out” of the group. Inclusion and exclusion are identified early, but the emotional resonances of these early experiences can be carried for many years.
There are indications that there are differences between adults who are prejudiced and those who are tolerant. Stereotypical characteristics of those who are prejudiced toward others include being more rigid, authoritarian, conformist, more self-righteously moralistic and singularly without humour.
Often their childhood experiences feature physical punishment with strong parental power and punitive psychological control over their young lives. It is difficult for children who have not witnessed their parents being tolerant and compassionate, to learn how to sympathise and empathise with diverse others whom they meet in life.
Bigotry is learned. Prejudiced adults breed prejudiced children. And it is frequently, not just a specific intolerant attitude towards an identifiable group that is acquired, but instead a complex of negative, judgmental views of other people and biases against any one who is different in any way.
Interpersonal relationships are coloured by prejudices and can become alarmingly instinctive, so that a voice, an accent or physical appearance can evoke primitive responses that are inexplicably intense.
Studies of children show that children who are prejudiced may be less satisfied with their own mental abilities, have less confidence, less trust in others, and greater fear of being exploited than unprejudiced children.
Their anger is often displaced on to those who become the “reason”, the “justification” and the targets of their distress. Classroom bullies often make jokes about their victims, thereby disguising their bullying in apparent humour, whereas “tolerant” children have been found to be more intellectually able, conceptually capable and open to change.
But apart from the classical stereotypes of the recognisably racist, illiberal person is the more insidious practice of selective liberalism by those whose prejudices run deep but who do not know that they have any prejudices at all.
Selective liberalists are extraordinarily tolerant of everyone except those who do not share their views. Broadminded within a narrow range, no opposition is permitted to their stance, and any challenge is described as intolerance of them.
Comedy has too often been recruited by selective liberalists in the service of most malicious discrimination, whereby anything can be said about anyone, yet challenge to its offence can be brushed off with the disclaimer that “it’s only a joke”.
Our deepest fears are often embedded in the outrageousness of apparent humour through which the unsayable can be said. Anger, anxiety, sexism, chauvinism are frequently disguised as jokes.
The Irish saying, “half-joking, whole in earnest”, recognises the degree to which comedy may camouflage our most unacceptable emotions in apparent humour, and through this strategy deny those who would be offended by dismissing them as humourless and unable to get the joke.
- Clinical psychologist and writer Marie Murray is the director of the UCD student counselling services. Her new radio slot Mindtimemay be heard every Wednesday on Drivetimeon RTÉ Radio One