Racism in the provision of mental health services: a social-cognitive analysis

A social-cognitive analysis is proposed as a framework for delineating the process by which racial bias operates in the provision of mental health services. The concept of aversive racism is used to explain how the behavior and attitudes of white clinicians toward black patients can lead to differences by race in treatment and outcomes, despite lower levels of self-reported prejudice among individuals. Implications for research, practice, and professional training are discussed.