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5 - The Intersection of Psychology and Human Rights in Addressing Racism, Discrimination, and Xenophobia

Past, Present, and Future Directions

from Part II - The Intersection of Psychology and Human Rights

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 October 2020

By
Roseanne L. Flores ,
Corann Okorodudu  and
Verene Shepherd
Edited by
Neal S. Rubin  and
Roseanne L. Flores
Neal S. Rubin
Affiliation:
Adler University
Roseanne L. Flores
Affiliation:
Hunter College, City University of New York
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Summary

Today hate crimes are on the rise locally, nationally, and internationally. Many of these crimes stem from racism, discrimination, and xenophobia. The questions that arise are (1) What are the psychological premises that underlie one’s beliefs about racism, discrimination, and xenophobia? and (2) What are the psychological, social, and human rights consequences if we fail to act? In this chapter we address these questions by (1) describing the psychology of racism, prejudice, and discrimination; (2) examining how the United Nations and the global community have historically addressed racism and discrimination; and (3) providing an overview of the history of how psychological science has been used to address racism and discrimination within the global community. Finally, the chapter concludes by addressing the psychology of diversity and calling upon the global community to use evidence to address how we can best create a more equal society, given our differences, so as to maximize the potential of all of humanity and ensure the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Keywords

ConventionDiscriminationEliminationEnslavementGenocideHolocaustIntoleranceRacialSegregationXenophobia
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Psychology and Human Rights , pp. 75 - 89
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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