"The ironic impact of activists"

[Cerridwen]

"The ironic impact of activists: Negative stereotypes reduce social change influence"

Abstract

Despite recognizing the need for social change in areas such as social equality and environmental protection, individuals often avoid supporting such change. Researchers have previously attempted to understand this resistance to social change by examining individuals' perceptions of social issues and social change. We instead examined the possibility that individuals resist social change because they have negative stereotypes of activists, the agents of social change. Participants had negative stereotypes of activists (feminists and environmentalists), regardless of the domain of activism, viewing them as eccentric and militant. Furthermore, these stereotypes reduced participants' willingness to affiliate with ‘typical’ activists and, ultimately, to adopt the behaviours that these activists promoted. These results indicate that stereotypes and person perception processes more generally play a key role in creating resistance to social change. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Boring, isn't it? Much more interesting and meme catapulting to say:

[font size=5]Study: Everyone hates environmentalists and feminists[/font]
[font size = 1]New research suggests people tend to hold negative views of political and social activists [/font]

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If you're going to criticize the media, maybe it's time to question everything reported, how it's reported, and what they choose to report.

Yeah, it's just the internet. I want better than that.

[DURHAM D]

1. You didn't want to join this thread?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023735810

[Cerridwen]

2. No. When everyone's running around

debating that which isn't the topic, I prefer to return to the topic at hand.

You want to debate what isn't the topic? Have fun.

The topic was that some people are ignorant and succumb to their prejudicial stereotypes and how that impacts activism. I prefer to talk about where those stereotypes come from and what can be done about it.

I suggest we start with the "lame American media" and the people who don't question what they read if it fits their prejudicial stereotype.