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In an effort to uncover modern indirect prejudice and racism, Lauren Steinitz ’08 (Mercer Island, Wash.) has been evaluating college students’ responses to a hypothetical scenario involving a man seeking compensation for a health condition.
The project is part of ongoing research performed by Ann McGillicuddy-DeLisi, Metzgar Professor of Psychology.
McGillicuddy-DeLisi previously advised the honors thesis research of psychology and Spanish graduate Rebecca Banchik ’05, who examined whether students making healthcare decisions might show an aversive (unconscious) anti-Semitism that contrasts with hostile anti-Semitism. This set the stage for previous research with Steinitz and psychology major Lia Mandaglio ’08(Annandale, N.J.), extending Banchik’s thesis to compare considerations of healthcare benefits for Jewish patients versus those for white and black patients.
Steinitz and McGillicuddy-DeLisi’s current project examines anti-Semitism and prejudice against African Americans and how those attitudes could affect allocations of medical resources.
Volunteer participants were presented with a scenario in which a male patient is described as being either black or white, or Jewish or non-Jewish. The man was described as being either employed or unemployed, as well as responsible or not responsible for his medical condition. Each participant only received one scenario.
Participants were then asked to fill out questionnaires indicating their opinions about whether the man should receive funding for his condition, and were asked about their feelings toward Jewish or black people to see if they openly discriminated against them. The researchers recorded discrepancies between the attitudes towards the man in the scenario and the participants’ admitted feelings about African Americans and Jewish people.
“This subject is inherently interesting because it is about how we perceive others. From a very young age we are taught – from many different sources – stereotypes about others. These sentiments become engrained in our minds and we start unconsciously reacting to these stereotypes. This study plays into these stereotypes,” explains Steinitz, a psychology and economics & business double major.
Steinitz has been responsible for a variety of tasks, including selecting an established measure of “traditional hostile” ethnic/racial prejudice against African Americans, recruiting student participants, and collecting data.
“This study makes me wonder how my perceptions of others affect my everyday interactions. In a college setting, we like to think of ourselves as educated and open-minded people and not as racists or anti-Semites,” says Steinitz. “I myself like to think that I am not a person who discriminates, but as the current study suggests, sometimes we are completely unaware of the effects of stereotypes. I think these findings will not only help us to reorganize how we allocate medical resources but also have us seriously rethink other major decision-processes.”
McGillicuddy-DeLisi is impressed with Steinitz’s work.
“Lauren quickly grasped some of the intricacies of the meaning of modern implicit, or indirect racism as well as the paradigms used to assess this construct. I think she has been surprised at some of the responses and patterns of data she has seen and like most of us, thinks deeply about the implications for real people’s lives, both those who are unaware of their own prejudiced behaviors and also those who are victims of it,” says McGillicuddy-DeLisi.
This project has come about with the assistance of Lafayette’s distinctive EXCEL Scholars program, in which students conduct research with faculty while earning a stipend. The program has helped to make Lafayette a national leader in undergraduate research. Many of the more than 160 students who participate each year share their work through articles in academic journals and/or conference presentations.
Steinitz believes the EXCEL project has enhanced her academic experience at Lafayette.
“The psychology program at Lafayette is extremely strong because psychology is approached as a science. This scientific approach not only prepares students for graduate school, but also allows students to explore psychology in a very in-depth level and contemporary manner,” says Steinitz. “I think the EXCEL program truly highlights the strength of this school. I have always enjoyed learning from my professors but a one-on-one situation truly allows the professor to impart their passion for their field.”
McGillicuddy-DeLisi agrees.
“EXCEL is a fantastic program,” she says. “The students gain experiences that are enriching and unusual in scope and depth for undergraduates at most institutions. The students often become real collaborators and move on to formulate their own ideas about studies, sometimes conducting research on related but new and original topics that become advanced research projects or honors work.”
Steinitz plans to do an honors thesis and is considering attending graduate school or pursuing a career in marketing or consulting after Lafayette.
“Currently I am not sure what career path I want to take, but I do know that this program has taught me how to take initiative. I think this skill alone will help in all areas of work,” she says.
Steinitz is a member of Psi Chi, the psychology honor society. She also is captain of the dance team, a peer counselor, and a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.
As a developmental psychologist, McGillicuddy-DeLisi’s research is focused on the development of spatial and mathematical knowledge in children, and the influence of family environment factors on the development of children and adults.
She published breakthrough research in the July/August 2006 issue of Child Development, providing a first look at the age when children begin to take race into account subconsciously when making decisions about justice. The work was featured in various news outlets in the U.S. and abroad, including Medical News Today, EurekAlert, Newstrack, Post Chronicle, United Press International, Washington Times Insider, and Science Daily.
Institutions such as the U.S. Office of Education, National Institute of Mental Health, and National Institute of Health have awarded her grants totaling more than $1 million. She has given presentations at more than 25 conferences, edited two books, authored or coauthored over 40 book chapters and journal articles, and is co-editor of Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology. She is a past recipient of the Marquis Distinguished Teaching Award, Thomas Roy and Lura Forrest Jones Award for superior teaching and scholarship, Thomas Roy and Lura Forrest Jones Faculty Lecture Award, and Student Government Superior Teaching Award.
As a national leader in undergraduate research, Lafayette sends one of the largest contingents to the National Conference on Undergraduate Research each year. Forty students were accepted to present their research at last year’s conference.