Race and Gender Biases Can be Reduced With Sleep Therapy, Study Finds

New York Times ^ | May 28, 2015 | SINDYA N. BHANOO

[reaganaut1]

It may be possible to reduce biases regarding race and gender while a person sleeps, according to a new study published in the journal Science.

Prior research has shown that biases can be reduced with a technique called counter-stereotype training. Neuroscientists at Northwestern University wondered whether sleep might bolster the effect.

Study participants were shown images “that are opposite to what they might have been exposed to when growing up,” said Ken A. Paller, one of the study’s authors.

These included images of women and African-American men. When participants were shown images of women alongside scientific words, and African-American men alongside pleasant words, they were asked to press a button labeled “Correct.” The button triggered a sound.

Afterward, the participants were invited to take a 90-minute nap and the sounds were played back to them.

“We thought it might remind them of the training,” Dr. Paller said.

[reaganaut1]

Academics are doing such important studies. /s

Since there is much more black-on-white violent crime than the reverse, how about a study devoted to reducing biases against whites?

[right way right]

Stop the ride, I want off.

[Resolute Conservative]

They mean brainwashing.

[gaijin]

When you fear black males inexplicably hanging out at 2 a.m. on the deserted city street corner, you have a mental illness that you should be eager to cure.

Uh-huh.

[Secret Agent Man]

I think every urban black person needs to have this therapy first.

Let the most screwed up demographic in this country try it first.

[sparklite2]

Why would I want to be purged of beliefs
that accord with reality?

[Secret Agent Man]

Not all stereotypes are bad.

When they are based in rational reasons, it’s called common sense.

When they are for irrational reasons, that’s where problems start occurring.

Crime stats back up general black stereotypes. Even Jesse Jackson knows where it’s safer to be as a black man. It’s not around other blacks.

[Amendment10]

Also consider that when you’re asleep that you aren’t being indoctrinated by the corrupt media or lawless presidents.

[BenLurkin]

"Nooooooo!"

[needmorePaine]

“We thought it might remind them of the training,” Dr. Paller said.

Indeed, after the nap, the participants who heard the sounds while sleeping showed a reduction in bias, Dr. Paller and his colleagues found, which persisted for at least a week.

Alex: I woke up. The pain and sickness all over me like an animal. Then I realized what it was. The music coming up from the floor was our old friend, Ludwig Van, and the dreaded Ninth Symphony.

[Bob]

Paging Doctor Pavlov - Please pick up the white courtesy phone.

[Talisker]

All this proves is that the Left has re-termed mere unfamiliarity as racism.

[Alex Murphy]

....biases can be reduced with a technique called counter-stereotype training. Neuroscientists at Northwestern University wondered whether sleep might bolster the effect. Study participants were shown images “that are opposite to what they might have been exposed to when growing up,” said Ken A. Paller, one of the study’s authors. These included images of women and African-American men. When participants were shown images of women alongside scientific words, and African-American men alongside pleasant words, they were asked to press a button labeled “Correct.” The button triggered a sound. Afterward, the participants were invited to take a 90-minute nap and the sounds were played back to them.

In the eighties, these images were referred to as "The Cosby Show".

[DannyTN]

Paging Doctor Pavlov - Your dog is salivating on the floor again.

[SamuraiScot]

Why would you want to train in your sleep to get stupid?

[smokingfrog]

Electro-shock therapy might work too.

[dp0622]

off to the reeducation camp with you

[Jack Hammer]

Wasn’t this technique invented by George Orwell?

[UCANSEE2]

[FredZarguna]

And Oh, me droogs, Dr. Paller zvooks like he could use a tolchock in the litso.