For the past eight years, the University of Chicago’s Stereotyping and Prejudice Research Laboratory has been studying how racial bias affects law enforcement officers’ decisions to shoot unarmed and armed targets. Given the events of today, this is an especially timely study to discuss. Not surprisingly, the “research has provided robust evidence of racial bias in decisions to shoot. Participants shoot an armed target more quickly and more often when that target is Black, rather than White. However, participants decide not to shoot an unarmed target more quickly and more often when the target is White, rather than Black. In essence, participants seem to process stereotype-consistent targets (armed Blacks and unarmed Whites) more easily than counterstereotypic targets (unarmed Blacks and armed Whites).”
The lab’s Web site features a handy link to the Beta version of their test, which I took and failed miserably at. Not only did I shoot plenty of unarmed men of both races, but I also got shot by plenty of armed people of both races. I’m also pretty bad at video games, in case you were wondering. I’m not cut out to be a police officer. Incidentally, neither are some police officers.
At the end of the test, the screen displays your average reaction times, not how many times you messed up. I was dismayed to see that I reacted slightly faster to armed blacks than I did to armed whites. Dismayed but not really surprised — I was raised in America, after all! On the other hand, I decided not to shoot the unarmed black targets faster than the unarmed white targets, which runs counter to the researchers’ conclusions. All in all, it’s not a study that makes you feel very good — about yourself or about the field of law enforcement.
[RR]
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Since my husband is in law enforcement, I feel too bias to comment on this.
Hmm, I’m not sure if reading this post affected how I did on this test, all I know is that I shot like 4 good guys before realizing that I had to look for a gun. Anyway, I ended up “shooting” when I saw the gun and then realized race like a fraction of a sec afterwards. It was so nerve-racking…
I did pretty well. I was always looking for the gun, not the race.
Yes, the point is to look for guns. It’s when they showed the results at the end that I realized my reaction times differed slightly based on the race of the person in the picture.
BMD- So that means that your husband understood you when you told that crazy woman you were going to “light her as* up”.
Dang…reaction time got me and I love my people! They should give this test to law enforcement applicants nationwide…right along with a better psyche profile.
The NYPD is looking for a few good men. Requirements, must be willing to shoot to kill innocent minorities in urban crime ridden areas. Pay per kill incentive bonus. Good bonus, and healthcare package. Immunity from prosecution. Bench trial secured before first bullet is lodged in assailants chest cavity. http://www.cafepress.com/dirtycops
Asante Kahari
So what button am I supposed to press to shoot?
Yes, Chic, he knew exactly what I meant. We go shooting at the range, so I’m fairly certain I could have ‘lit her up’ with accuracy. LMAO.
Okay, I killed a whole lotta innocent people but…
Game Over
Your Score: 130
Average reaction time:
Black Armed:728.68ms
Black Unarmed:891.52ms
White Armed:622.28ms
White Unarmed:1093.6ms
I also spent a good chunk of my childhood in a 99% black country so…
Game Over
Your Score: 405
Average reaction time:
Black Armed:596.24ms
Black Unarmed:742.32ms
White Armed:645.08ms
White Unarmed:716.36ms
And im black. For shame. . .
Game Over
Your Score: 515
Average reaction time:
Black Armed:627.72ms
Black Unarmed:752ms
White Armed:649.96ms
White Unarmed:848.88ms
I haven’t played the game, but let me ask a basic question: are the black people easier to see? The human eye, regardless of race, is drawn to darker colors. And if the person is holding a gun, how much does it contrast to the color of the person holding it? It looks like it might be easier to tell if the white guys are holding guns, especially if the action moves that quickly.
*I liked the game..but the hardest part was remembering which was to shoot and which button was to put gun in holster..also hard to tell cellphone from gun sometimes*
Your Score: 540
Average reaction time:
Black Armed:624.52ms
Black Unarmed:669.96ms
White Armed:631.88ms
White Unarmed:695.92ms