On the history of political diversity in social psychology. (8th September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Binning, Kevin R.; Sears, David O.
• Is Part Of: Behavioral and brain sciences. Volume 38(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-09-08
• Subjects: Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Brain -- Periodicals; 616.89142
• DOI: 10.1017/S0140525X14001137
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-525X

Abstract

Abstract: We argue that the history of political diversity in social psychology may be better characterized by stability than by a large shift toward liberalism. The branch of social psychology that focuses on political issues has defined social problems from a liberal perspective since at least the 1930s. Although a lack of ideological diversity within the discipline can pose many of the problems noted by Duarte et al., we suggest that these problems (a) are less apparent when the insights of social psychology are pitted against the insights from other social science disciplines, and (b) are less pressing than the need for other types of diversity in the field, especially ethnic and racial diversity.