Black Men Seen As Larger, More Threatening Than Their Similarly Sized White Counterparts
- 7 years ago
North American researchers have found that black men are often deemed physically larger and more threatening than their similarly sized white counterparts.
North American researchers have found that black men are often deemed physically larger and more threatening than their similarly sized white counterparts.
The study, conducted by experts from the University of Toronto, Miami University, and Montclair State University, involved the participation of 950 people hailing from the United States.
According to a press release about the endeavor, all “were shown a series of color photographs of white and black male faces of individuals who were all of equal height and weight. The participants were then asked to estimate the height, weight, strength and overall muscularity of the men pictured.”
John Paul Wilson, one of the researchers, said, “We found that these estimates were consistently biased. Participants judged the black men to be larger, stronger and more muscular than the white men, even though they were actually the same size. Participants also believed that the black men were more capable of causing harm in a hypothetical altercation and, troublingly, that police would be more justified in using force to subdue them, even if the men were unarmed."
Wilson also noted, “We found that men with darker skin and more stereotypically black facial features tended to be most likely to elicit biased size perceptions."
It is his suggestion that further study be done to determine, “how this bias operates in potentially lethal situations.”
North American researchers have found that black men are often deemed physically larger and more threatening than their similarly sized white counterparts.
The study, conducted by experts from the University of Toronto, Miami University, and Montclair State University, involved the participation of 950 people hailing from the United States.
According to a press release about the endeavor, all “were shown a series of color photographs of white and black male faces of individuals who were all of equal height and weight. The participants were then asked to estimate the height, weight, strength and overall muscularity of the men pictured.”
John Paul Wilson, one of the researchers, said, “We found that these estimates were consistently biased. Participants judged the black men to be larger, stronger and more muscular than the white men, even though they were actually the same size. Participants also believed that the black men were more capable of causing harm in a hypothetical altercation and, troublingly, that police would be more justified in using force to subdue them, even if the men were unarmed."
Wilson also noted, “We found that men with darker skin and more stereotypically black facial features tended to be most likely to elicit biased size perceptions."
It is his suggestion that further study be done to determine, “how this bias operates in potentially lethal situations.”