New research shows majority of academics are hostile, discriminatory towards conservative colleagues | Disrn

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[–]Chipit 6 insightful - 2 fun6 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

A lack of political diversity in psychology is said to lead to a number of pernicious outcomes, including biased research and active discrimination against conservatives. The authors of this study surveyed a large number (combined N = 800) of social and personality psychologists and discovered several interesting facts. First, although only 6% described themselves as conservative "overall," there was more diversity of political opinion on economic issues and foreign policy. Second, respondents significantly underestimated the proportion of conservatives among their colleagues. Third, conservatives fear negative consequences of revealing their political beliefs to their colleagues. Finally, they are right to do so: In decisions ranging from paper reviews to hiring, many social and personality psychologists said that they would discriminate against openly conservative colleagues. The more liberal respondents were, the more they said they would discriminate.

Composite scores of perceived hostile climate for conservatives (a = .85) were significantly correlated with political orientation, r(263) = .28, p < .0001: The more liberal respondents were, the less they believed that conservatives faced a hostile climate. This correlation was driven entirely by more conservative respondents' greater personal experience of a hostile climate: Controlling for personal experience, the relationship disappeared (r = -.01), suggesting that the hostile climate reported by conservatives is invisible to those who do not experience it themselves.

At the end of our surveys, we gave room for comments. Many respondents wrote that they could not believe that anyone in the field would ever deliberately discriminate against conservatives. Yet at the same time we found clear examples of discrimination. One participant described how a colleague was denied tenure because of his political beliefs. Another wrote that if the department "could figure out who was a conservative they would be sure not to hire them."

-- Yoel Inbar and Joris Lammers, "Political Diversity in Social and Personality Psychology" http://yoelinbar.net/papers/political_diversity.pdf

[–]Comatoast 4 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

If they're unable to withstand being outwardly judgemental of their colleagues due to personal, political affiliations/beliefs-- how does that translate over into patient care? Because I somehow doubt that it's easily separable and politics or something pertaining to it with a patient's personal experience may come up in therapy. It's truly no wonder that people hide so many things when dealing with those people.

[–]chadwickofwv 5 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

You're far better off not interacting with them at all. The entire field of psychology is garbage. Subjecting yourself to them is a terrible idea, even if you need help.

[–]Comatoast 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Personally, I have to. My doctor is fine though, and we just shoot the shit and he adjusts dosage or gives suggestions on supplements to take for side effects. We're not there to discuss therapy though. I'm not a therapy person. I agree for the most part.