What’s race got to do with it? By Jerry Adler

Overview Q: Are there biological differences between racial groups or is race a social construction? Q: Are there biological differences between racial groups or is race a social construction? Discussion of the genetic differences between racial groups has been limited Discussion of the genetic differences between racial groups has been limited Longstanding fear that comparisons would end up reflecting poorly on one or more groups Longstanding fear that comparisons would end up reflecting poorly on one or more groups Harvard geneticist Richard Lewontin made the claim that the only genetic differences are between individuals Harvard geneticist Richard Lewontin made the claim that the only genetic differences are between individuals Recently, discussion of genetic differences in race have appeared in the medical field Recently, discussion of genetic differences in race have appeared in the medical field

Overview The drug BiDil has been proven to treat heart failure in blacks but no other race The drug BiDil has been proven to treat heart failure in blacks but no other race People were outraged by the idea of promoting a drug targeted at a single race People were outraged by the idea of promoting a drug targeted at a single race Questions the idea of race as a social construction Questions the idea of race as a social construction Q: Is something like this (BiDil’s discovery) a valid argument for a biological difference in race or could this be attributed to other factors? Q: Is something like this (BiDil’s discovery) a valid argument for a biological difference in race or could this be attributed to other factors? Lack of advertisement and high cost have limited access to BiDil Lack of advertisement and high cost have limited access to BiDil ~ 750,000 blacks have heart failure ~ 750,000 blacks have heart failure Only 3% of patients who could use BiDil use it Only 3% of patients who could use BiDil use it

Overview Other studies have found that BiDil is the only drug that is useful for a single race Other studies have found that BiDil is the only drug that is useful for a single race Timothy Caulfield – the idea of race is not very useful biologically Timothy Caulfield – the idea of race is not very useful biologically "Someone whose ancestors came from Nigeria is very different from a descendant of Kenyans, but if the two of them are walking down the sidewalk in New York, they're both ‘black’." "Someone whose ancestors came from Nigeria is very different from a descendant of Kenyans, but if the two of them are walking down the sidewalk in New York, they're both ‘black’." Research that has reduced us down to racial categories will eventually reduce us down to individual variations Research that has reduced us down to racial categories will eventually reduce us down to individual variations “We will no longer be white or Asian or African, or even Northern European, Ashkenazi, Japanese or East African; we will be who we are, each one of us.” “We will no longer be white or Asian or African, or even Northern European, Ashkenazi, Japanese or East African; we will be who we are, each one of us.”

The Meaning of Race in Psychology and How to Change It by Helms, Jernigan, and Mascher Race has no conceptual meaning and should not be used as an independent variable in research Race has no conceptual meaning and should not be used as an independent variable in research There are no procedures to create racial categories therefore a researcher’s idea of race cannot be challenged There are no procedures to create racial categories therefore a researcher’s idea of race cannot be challenged Psychologists should study race as simply a social construction and instead look at culture for group traits Psychologists should study race as simply a social construction and instead look at culture for group traits Race does not provide any information about a person’s behavior and only reflects the researcher’s beliefs Race does not provide any information about a person’s behavior and only reflects the researcher’s beliefs There are no standard attributes that all members of a particular race possess There are no standard attributes that all members of a particular race possess Race is not naturally occurring since psychological researchers can reassign race based on sample size needs Race is not naturally occurring since psychological researchers can reassign race based on sample size needs Ex: races can be separated or lumped together under the term “minorities” if necessary Ex: races can be separated or lumped together under the term “minorities” if necessary Researchers often fail to provide empirical explanations for why there are differences in races when testing various measures (i.e. test scores) Researchers often fail to provide empirical explanations for why there are differences in races when testing various measures (i.e. test scores) This allows them to draw whatever conclusions they choose This allows them to draw whatever conclusions they choose Psychologists are using practices similar to racial profiling Psychologists are using practices similar to racial profiling Membership in an arbitrary racial category predicts individual behavior Membership in an arbitrary racial category predicts individual behavior Q: Do you agree that race is not a valid independent variable to use in psychological research? Q: Do you agree that race is not a valid independent variable to use in psychological research?