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Microaggressions
1Department of Psychology, Emory University.
Abstract:
The microaggression concept has recently galvanized public discussion and spread to numerous college campuses and businesses. I argue that the microaggression research program (MRP) rests on five core premises, namely, that microaggressions (1) are operationalized with sufficient clarity and consensus to afford rigorous scientific investigation; (2) are interpreted negatively by most or all minority group members; (3) reflect implicitly prejudicial and implicitly aggressive motives; (4) can be validly assessed using only respondents' subjective reports; and (5) exert an adverse impact on recipients' mental health. A review of the literature reveals negligible support for all five suppositions. More broadly, the MRP has been marked by an absence of connectivity to key domains of psychological science, including psychometrics, social cognition, cognitive-behavioral therapy, behavior genetics, and personality, health, and industrial-organizational psychology. Although the MRP has been fruitful in drawing the field's attention to subtle forms of prejudice, it is far too underdeveloped on the conceptual and methodological fronts to warrant real-world application. I conclude with 18 suggestions for advancing the scientific status of the MRP, recommend abandonment of the term "microaggression," and call for a moratorium on microaggression training programs and publicly distributed microaggression lists pending research to address the MRP's scientific limitations.
Insights
The microaggression research program (MRP) lacks scientific support for its core premises. Further research is needed before applying microaggression concepts in real-world settings.
Area of Science:
- Psychological science
- Social psychology
- Prejudice studies
Background:
- The concept of microaggressions has gained prominence in public discourse, particularly in academic and corporate environments.
- The microaggression research program (MRP) is built upon five central assumptions regarding the nature, interpretation, motives, assessment, and impact of microaggressions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically evaluate the scientific validity of the microaggression research program (MRP).
- To assess the empirical support for the five core premises of the MRP.
- To identify conceptual and methodological limitations within the MRP and suggest avenues for advancement.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive review of existing literature within the microaggression research program.
- Analysis of the MRP's alignment with established domains of psychological science, including psychometrics and social cognition.
Main Results:
- Negligible empirical support was found for all five core premises of the microaggression research program.
- The MRP demonstrates a significant lack of integration with key areas of psychological science.
- Current conceptual and methodological limitations render the MRP unsuitable for real-world application.
Conclusions:
- The microaggression research program is scientifically underdeveloped and requires substantial advancement.
- The term "microaggression" should be reconsidered, and a halt to related training and public lists is recommended pending further research.
- Future research should focus on addressing the identified scientific limitations to improve the rigor and applicability of the MRP.
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