#665 - Cory Clark - 5 Forbidden Topics That Psychology Won’t Discuss
Aug 10, 2023
01:37:50
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Cory Clark, an Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania and social psychologist, discusses controversial topics in psychology that are often avoided. He challenges the myth of pervasive misogyny, highlighting biases favoring women. The podcast explores gender differences in physical strength, the consequences of avoiding certain topics, and the backlash faced by controversial conclusions in fields like behavioral genetics. It also delves into in-group out-group hatred in politics, patronizing behavior towards disadvantaged groups, and fake virtue signaling. The differences in male and female self-improvement are also explored.
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Quick takeaways
The increasing representation of women in academia has led to a shift in priorities, with a focus on harm avoidance, equality, and inclusivity.
Biases against women have actually diminished in modern Western societies, with bias in favor of women being prevalent in various domains.
Suppressing scientific findings and avoiding controversial topics hinders progress and erodes trust in scientific institutions.
The fear of backlash and punishment leads to self-censorship among academics, creating a skewed perception of prevailing views in academia.
Deep dives
Women's Bias Towards Harm Avoidance
Women tend to prioritize the avoidance of harm and the promotion of moral desirability, leading to a preference for protecting students from offensive ideas, disinviting speakers due to potential protests, favoring confidential reporting systems for offensive comments, and seeking administrative approval for controversial news stories in student newspapers.
Changing Dynamics in Academia
With the increasing representation of women in academia, there has been a shift in the culture and priorities of the field. Women's interests and concerns relating to harm, equality, and inclusivity are gaining prominence, influencing institutional policies, such as implementing trigger warnings, censoring certain scientific findings, and expanding DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives.
Misconceptions about Bias Against Women
Contrary to popular belief, studies have shown that biases against women have actually diminished in modern Western societies. Research indicates that bias in favor of women is prevalent in various domains, such as favoring women in academia and treating women more positively. The push for gender equality and highlighting injustices against women may stem from societies' heightened concern for women's well-being and the cultural narrative of historical disadvantage.
Consequences of Suppressing Truth
Suppressing scientific findings or avoiding certain areas of research to prevent potential harm can lead to unintended consequences. It hinders progress, impedes the pursuit of truth, and erodes trust in scientific institutions. Ignoring potential disparities or avoiding the exploration of controversial topics can hamper efforts to address problems and find effective solutions.
Controversy surrounding evolutionary psychology and behavioral genetics in academia
This podcast episode explores the detestation and opposition faced by evolutionary psychology and behavioral genetics in academia. These fields often present controversial conclusions, particularly those related to group differences in gender and race. People are generally more accepting of conclusions that support social psychology, which focus on discrimination and cultural expectations. However, the same people tend to resist or reject conclusions that favor one group over another based on evolutionary or genetic explanations. The opposition to these fields is primarily driven by concerns about spreading negative stereotypes and potential harm to vulnerable or disadvantaged groups. The episode also highlights the skewed representation of progressive white women in academia, who often prioritize moral concerns and protectiveness towards these groups. Overall, the podcast raises concerns about the future of scientific research and academic freedom in light of these dynamics.
Prevalence of self-censorship in academia
The podcast discusses the prevalence of self-censorship among academics due to the fear of backlash and punishment for controversial conclusions. Many scholars hold differing views privately from the dominant narrative in academia but are reluctant to speak out publicly. This self-censorship creates a perception that the extremist views in support of prioritizing harm over scientific pursuit are more widespread than they actually are. The episode highlights the need for open dialogue and courage among scholars to challenge these prevailing notions and potentially bring about a shift in the academic landscape.
Gender differences in perspectives on controversial conclusions
The podcast delves into the gender differences observed in academia regarding perspectives on controversial conclusions. Women tend to consider the trade-off between truth-seeking and potential harm more deeply, often perceiving these issues as complicated. Men, on the other hand, are more likely to prioritize academic freedom and truth-seeking. These gender differences reflect a broader pattern where men tend to prioritize external harm, while women are more concerned about internal harm. The episode suggests that these differences may arise from varying perspectives on protection and empathy, and they impact discussions and decisions regarding controversial issues and research.
Cory Clark is an Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, a social psychologist and an author.
Academia is supposed to be a bastion of intellectual purity where curiosity and the truth reign supreme. But what happens when the findings of research start to become inconvenient? What happens when conclusions may be scientifically accurate, but politically incorrect?
Expect to learn what happens when you conduct a study on self-censorship in academic psychology and get reported for it, whether pervasive misogyny is actually a myth, why there is such an apparent anti-female bias, how women have fundamentally changed the culture of academia, whether men are psychologically different because of the patriarchy, which two areas of psychology are the most hated by academia and much more...
