An Investigation into the Effects of Race on the...

An Investigation into the Effects of Race on the Perception of Guilt Abstract The aim is the see whether people are more likely to find a black man guilty of a crime. Having found both a black man and a white man of middle attractiveness out of a choice of 10 photos picked from magazines, subjects were read a short account of a crime and rated the guilt of the offender on a scale of 0 to 10 (with 0 being not guilty). I used subjects aged between 11 and 18, all were Caucasian and attended Sevenoaks School. I used 75 subjects in total. They were shown either the picture of the black man, the picture of the white man or no picture as a control. The results showed that the black man was†¦show more content†¦This physical appearance generates other judgements about a persons personality. In 1933 Katz and Braly conducted an experiment into ethnic stereotypes. They asked Princeton University students to indicate which 5 words out of 84 they would associate with 10 different ethnic groups. If more than 75% of students associated a characteristic with one g roup it was considered a stereotype. Blacks were stereotyped as lazy, immoral, dishonest and given to crimes of violence. This experiment is criticised because it lacks reliability and relevance to modern society. It was conducted in 1933 in America, we live in another century and society has developed enormously. Gilbert repeated the experiment in 1951 and Karlins in 1969 and in each subsequent experiment the stereotypes were significantly weaker. When this experiment is repeated it produces different results and so is unreliable. Subjects showed increasing reluctance to participate because they were less willing to express stereotypes. This is relevant in my experiment because I want to see if whites consider blacks as more likely criminals. I believe that certain social stereotypes still exist at a subconscious level but that people are less willing to express these stereotypes. The Howard League, a prison reform group, published an article in the London Metro on the 22nd of March 2000 titled Justice isShow MoreRelatedWhat Factors Influence Jury Decision Making?1326 Words   |  6 Pagespersonally relevant reason to confirm a hypothesis, people seem to favor confirmation as the default testing strategy. Further hypothesized that the preference for confirming evidence is influenced by two main factors, Facts v. Perception. Let’s begin with the perception, a study of 24 students in favor of the death penalty and another 24 against were selected, these participants were asked a short amount of research reports. The reports were all of equal quality, some produced results supportingRead MoreAwareness Of White Privilege : Racism Toward Black Americans1016 Words   |  5 PagesAwareness of White Privilege Effects Racism Toward Black Americans Ongoing research efforts continue to focus on the cognitive processes involved in the perpetuation of intergroup biases as well as techniques that can be used to reduce racial prejudice (Stewart, Latu, Branscombe, Phillips Denney, 2012). Descriptive studies (Neville, Lilly, Lee, Duran Browne, 2000) and experimental investigations (Branscombe, Schmitt Schiffhaurer, 2006) have found a significant relationship between theRead MoreRacial Discrimination And The Criminal Justice System1725 Words   |  7 PagesRacial discrimination is defines as racism that implicates the credence in racial differences, which acts as a justification for non-equal treatment of members of that race. Also, this paper will be focusing on the race industry within the criminal justice system in all level law enforcement, courts and court system. Racial discrimination can be researched back in history its leading enablers take it as undisputable that the African American community has the highest number of incarceration ratesRead MoreThe Construction of Amanda Knox as an Other Essay1519 Words   |  7 Pageswith tightly controlled boundaries where behaviour is regulated to maintain order, and anomalies or ambiguities and the crossing of boundaries are perceived as â€Å"risky†. Lupton also discusses Mary Douglas’ ideas on the social function of individual perceptions of societal dangers. Douglas (1966) maintained that individuals tend to associate societal harms with conduct that transgresses societal norms, and that this tendency promotes certain social structures, both by imbuing a society’s members with aversionsRead MoreRacial Profiling and the African American Male1808 Words   |  8 Pagesmind when you think of an interaction an authoritative figure (police, teacher, principal)? In the African American community it is usually fear and anxiety of the motive of the authoritative figure, especially if you are a male. The intersection of race and gender fo r the African American male provides a basis for premature judgment by many authoritative figures in their lives. African American males deserve the same equality to succeed in life as any other human being without the threat of the damnedRead MoreThe Death Penalty: Pros and Cons Essay1045 Words   |  5 Pagessuch as racism which is a big topic for people who would like to see the capital punishment be abolished. It is a know fact the people who kill white victims of most likely to face harsher punishment then if they were to kill someone of a different race. 40 percent of the people on death row in 2007 were African Americans although whites committed more murders. The former mayor of Maryland, Mister Martin O’Malley brought up another controversial discussion supporting abolishment s well stating thatRead MoreThe Impact Of Media On The Public s Perception Of Law Enforcement And The Criminal Justice System1751 Words   |  8 Pagesreview of the Role the Media Plays in the Public’s Perception of Law Enforcement and the Criminal Justice System. The role the mass media plays in the public perception of Law Enforcement and the Criminal Justice System is potentially important in relation to the viewer’s attitude and beliefs. Does the general public support law enforcement or does the media create a negative perception of the police in the press and on network television? The CSI Effect has gained huge popularity among researchers,Read MoreNative Son by Richard Wright Essay1591 Words   |  7 Pages Who is the victim in a prejudiced civilization? The dominant group or the minority? Native Son, a novel by Richard Wright, focuses on the effects of racism on the oppressors and the oppressed. It establishes that in an ethnically prejudiced society discrimination comes from everywhere, and most monumental occurrences only contribute to its decline. The story is set in Chicago in the 1930s.Read More12 Angry Men: Movie169 8 Words   |  7 Pagestheir thoughts and beliefs about the cases and the accused. The jurors’ perception of the boy was solid upon entering the jury room due to their stereotyping of the boy and his rearing. Many presumed him guilty based on previous interactions or â€Å"known facts† of people growing up in a low socioeconomic environment. The fact that he was Latino and young-eighteen to be exact-aided the jurors in their presumption of his guilt. The only man that wanted to look at the boy as an individual and give himRead MoreReasonable Doubts: The Criminal Justice System and the O.J. Simpson Case2396 Words   |  10 Pageswas found murdered alongside Ronald Goldman (Dershowitz 19). Chapter one of Reasonable Doubts describes how many people jumped to the conclusion that O.J. carried out the murders. Incriminating evidence emerged that more than pointed to Simpson’s guilt (Dershowitz 21). Soon enough, media reports claimed that Simpson would be charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Simpson’s reluctance to be peacefully taken into custody was illustrated by his famous Los Angeles free-way chase that ended in

Into the Wild Chris McCandless as Role Model Essay

There had never been and there would never be someone exactly like Chris McCandless. Chris has a middle class background and stands out from his peers because he believes that society restrains his independence. He leaves his past life and wanders America heading toward the lonely Alaskan wilderness to find who he really is. He discovers ways of moving to Alaska despite leaving behind all of his possessions and social status. Chris’s sincerity and integrity earn the respect of the people he meets. He inspires people leave behind their old life and explore the country by documenting his experiences. Chris loves to challenge himself and after succeeding academically he finds purpose through self deprivation. Chris chooses Alaska because its†¦show more content†¦All three help Chris reach Alaska after initially discouraging him because Chris earned their friendship with his values and not theirs. Much like a father Ronald questions Chris on his decision to leave home but while Chris is happy being independent Ronalds life is empty. He loses his family while serving his country and lives alone. Believing in duty to his country has left him with no relationships. Ronald wants happiness so after receiving a letter from Chris Ronald changes his life, emulating Chris’s transient lifestyle by living out of a trailer. Ronald is grateful to Chris for persuading him to cast off his self-imposed bonds and find happiness in new experiences. When Ronald finds out about Chriss death he, [renounces] the Lord, [he withdraws] church membership and [becomes] an atheist (60). Ronald thinks there must be no God if someone like can die from starvation. The strength of Chris’s belief in his world view made him an inspiring and magnetic person. Chris is ambitious and motivated, after Chris excels academically he inspires himself to carry out the more difficult goal of surviving in the Alaskan wilderness with as little equipment as possible. When Chris leav es his life in Annandale after graduating Emory University he makes the decision to succeed on his own terms. Chris did not travel toShow MoreRelatedIs Chris Mccandless Crazy Essay907 Words   |  4 PagesIs Chris Mccandless crazy or not? In the book Into the Wild the main character, Chris Mccandless, made a rational decision to exclude himself from human society because he believed that going beyond what his parents, and society wanted, he would live a happier life. Chris wanted to leave society and venture into the wilderness to find the true meaning of who he was. Chris Mccandless was neither crazy or ignorant to live off in the wild where there was no people or anything to interact with, butRead MoreEssay On Chris Mccandless1092 Words   |  5 PagesChris McCandless, the subject of Jon Krakauersâ€Å"Into The Wild,† whose off-the-grid Alaskan adventure ended in starvation is a hero and an idealist whose sense of independence and adventure inspires us to reach for our dreams. McCandless was a courageous man. He wanted to live a life that was completely different than the one his parents lead. And wanted to submerge himself in the world that we live in and be sequestered from people who take it for granted. However, most students see McCandless asRead MoreInto The Wild By Jon Krakauer1013 Words   |  5 Pages Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer, narrates the life of adventurer and free spirit Christopher McCandless, who died August 1992 in the Alaskan wilderness; however, his journey still remains relevant in today’s pop culture due to the unresolved controversy of whether he is a saintly role model or hubristic fool. Krakauer openly states that he â€Å"won’t claim to be an impartial biographer† (Author’s Note) due to the parallels he struck with McCandless, and provides a more idealistic approach to the biographyRead More Chris McCandless is NOT a Hero in the Book, Into the Wild by John Krakauer507 Words   |  2 Pagespeople have read the story â€Å"Into the Wild† By Jon Krakauer, when mentioning the name Chris McCandless he is either viewed as hero or as a dumb man. The people who view him as a hero tend to believe that he was determined enough t o want to do something. Others view him as an idiot who just wanted attention. Him being unprepared and not knowing much about how to survive in the wild made McCandless an idiot, the dumb jerk. Also causing him to be a poor role model to multiple people causing them to endRead MoreAnalysis Of Christopher Mccandless s Into The Wild 2362 Words   |  10 Pagesfuture, who soon endured the journey of a lifetime. The well known novel â€Å"Into the Wild† by Jon Krakauer is based on the true story of Christopher McCandless, a young man from a wealthy family in the Eastern United States, who, after graduating from Emory University, donated all his available money to charity and embarked on a trip through the American West under the surname Alexander Supertramp. Two years later, McCandless was found dead in the desolation of Alaska. This discovery triggered a spectacularRead MoreInto The Wild By Jon Krakauer2187 Words   |  9 Pagesâ€Å"All happy families are happy in the same way, but all unhappy families are unhappy in their own way† (Tolstoy). Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer tells a story about a young man called Christopher McCandless who comes from a well-off family who then out of the blue deserts everything to journey on an â€Å"Alaskan Odyssey†. There isn’t a sane man who donates all his money, leaves everything and everyone he loves, and changes his identity to â€Å"Alexander Supertramp† to venture on a journey that makes him faceRead MoreTranscendentalism And Its Impact On Society2407 Words   |  10 Pagesand repeating. A cycle that causes many of us to lead lives of quiet desperation. Living with a warped sense of purpose leaves one feeling unfulfilled and meaningless. A sense of belonging plays a crucial role in every life. Belongingness can be found on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: a model of five interdependent needs that must be satisfied in order, starting with the lower level. The first two levels are deficiency needs, which are biological needs (air, food, water, etc.) and safety needs (protection

The Effect of Multiculturalism in Canadian Society Free Essays

In terms of education, multiculturalism is becoming increasingly disruptive in Canadian society. It seems that there is a new issue in the media focus regarding education on a weekly basis. It’s becoming increasingly apparent that most, if not all issues in recent years stem from the debate of whether to centralize or decentralize our current system of education. We will write a custom essay sample on The Effect of Multiculturalism in Canadian Society or any similar topic only for you Order Now Proponents of centralization argue that a standard national system of education will provide all people with access to the same quality of education. On the other hand, proponent†s of decentralization claim that individual educational institutions will provide a level of education that is sensitive to the differing cultures and economic status within a particular area. Both sides contend that their system will provide a higher standard of education while improving the educational opportunities for minorities. Due to the recent investigation by the UN into Ontario’s education system, it is appropriate to define what Canadians are entitled to as far as educational rights. The UN proclaims universally that, â€Å"Everyone has the right to education† and that â€Å"education shall be free,† [UN, 1948,Article 26 (1)]. These definitions are very broad and far-reaching, and are rarely adhered to as fundamental human rights. â€Å"Many governments are inclined to define human rights in the manner most convenient to suiting their own political interests. † (Boutros Butros Ghali, 1993). Essentially, there is no benchmark that compels any government education system to provide for a multicultural society. It should be interesting to see what the UN will say about the Canadian education system and whether or not they will set standard in education for a multicultural society such as ours. With no hard and fast guidelines how should the education system in Canada operate in order to become an integrative force in Canada. The most prevailing school of though in Canada regarding education is its standardization and centralization. The provincial Government is responsible for developing and implementing of public education policy as long as they are in power. The Harris government has implemented and proposed many ideas for the centralization and standardization of education in the province of Ontario. These policies are aimed at conserving tax dollars and the elimination of the wasteful bureaucracies infecting our education system. Also the provincial government is taking steps to standardize the level of education received by students in Ontario. Programs like standardized testing for teachers and students as well as the standardization of the curriculum were implemented. These programs are intended to provide all students regardless of race or economic standing in any area of the province and equal opportunity to succeed. These initiatives are part and parcel of increased demand by the Federal government to have Canadian students rise to â€Å"levels equivalent to those achieved by students in Asia and Europe. † (Lightbody, pg. 265) These steps however pay little heed to other cultures in the education system. All courses on history or culture at the high school level are aimed to familiarize students with the traditions, philosophy, literature and history of the western world. Proponents argue that this action is appropriate since our country is based on a democracy founded in European ideals of government. It is also claimed that there would not be enough time in the current school year to educate students on every culture that has contributed to the construction of our society. Proponents for centralization seem to prefer the â€Å"middle of the road approach† when making decisions on curriculum. It is argued that trying to push the subject of multiculturalism too far would actually be a hindrance. Over emphasis of multiculturalism may interfere with a student†s participation in other groups, or worse, hold a child back from expressing his or her individuality. (Ryan 137) In other words, an education system that is equal is equal for all that use it. An all-encompassing education system provides the same level of education for all involved, and should not pay preference to any one individual culture. This type of system has come under fire from groups such as: Natives, isolated communities, minorities, and women†s groups since the system is incapable of attending to their particular needs. For example, the Oakland California School Board’s introduction of a controversial Ebonics policy. This policy was countered immediately with the creation of a bill that would penalize schools who support the instruction of Ebonics by restricting funding. Teaching courses in Ebonics can severely handicap a student in North America. Almost every facet of business, education, and government is conducted in proper English. This is a good example of how an absurd attempt to be considerate towards a minority hinders the progress of the education system. Diversions such as these take the attention away from sensible attempts to structure the education system in a way that benefits everyone fairly (If there is such a thing). In today†s society this type of education does not seem to be a progressive step for Canadians. An example of this is the creation of Affirmative action programs. In the U. S. blacks are experiencing an unemployment rate of nearly twice that of whites, Canadian figures I assume are relatively similar. â€Å"Affirmative action was designed to give qualified minorities a chance to compete on equal footing with whites. These programs create widespread resentment for minorities by Caucasians and thus hindering the development of society. Meanwhile the implementers of these programs ignore the reasons why these programs need to be created. They have even gone as far as claiming, â€Å"Few can argue that racism is still rampant in awarding contracts, jobs, and educational opportunities, even though it†s been proven beneficial to have people of different races with different ideas and different experiences working toward the same goal† (Chappell, 1996) The other school of thought in regards to education is the creation of what is known as a chartered school. A chartered school is run nearly autonomously with little interference by government (other than partial funding) or bureaucracies. It is intended to allow for increased local participation in decision making, and to save money by cutting down on costly administration and foster innovation through competition. (Lawton pg. 23). With competition, schools would have a greater incentive to improve itself in all aspects. Most advances would take place in the creation of new programs, providing access to higher levels of technology, and structuring curriculum with sensitivity to the ethnic make-up in its surrounding area. These schools would be developed and influenced by the parents of the students, teachers, other community members and even corporate sponsors. One of the major benefits of this type of school would be an increased response time in educational demands due to a lack of bureaucratic posturing and unnecessary collective bargaining agreements. Essentially, the organization will perform better since the programs implemented or any decisions made will affect those who make them. Supporters believe that this will hold a charter school accountable for improving and achieving its stated goals. Therefore, a school located in a particularly ethnically rich area can provide a form of education more appropriate culturally for it†s students. If a school is to be successful then it will have to be very aware of the demands placed on it by the area in which it is located. If it is not then it will risk failure. Parents will move their children to another school if they feel that their child is not being provided with an acceptable education. A centralized school system would be unable to respond to local needs due to broad general policies made by distant bureaucrats. These schools however will be partially funded by the government, with more money being allocated to the successful schools who attract more students. Presently there are eight chartered schools operating in Alberta out of a legislated maximum of 15. Other Provincial governments may be considering the implementation of charter schools but the idea is still new in Canada and there are numbers or studies that assess the performance of the existing schools in Alberta. The fundamental hindrance of a charter school is that it serves its community but not the nation. The increased response to community needs may in fact serve to increase the segregation among cultures in Canada. Also, lower income families will not be able to send their children to more successful schools for many reasons such as the cost of transportation and the cost of living in a particular area. The same could possibly apply to different cultures. The opportunity for a culturally rich education may be limited to location, and financial position. The result being that they would be no better off than they are now. The issue of multiculturalism will always plague the education system in Canada. There is no proven method of teaching all the students in a class in a manner that preserves their culture while affording them the same opportunities as everyone else. The centralization of education almost ignores the need for cultural understanding between ethnically different people. It supports itself on the idea that if all schools teach the same thing, students will be afforded the same opportunities. But how does the government decide what is best for each individual? Does majority rule apply in the education system as well? On the other hand the de-centralization of the school system provides for more community oriented schools that strive for improvement through competition. The idea of a problem free multicultural society can not be realized if we draw lines in the sand. We must act for the development of the nation, and the maintenance for the culture. Both views essentially try to answer two important questions asked by Canadians at once. First, how do you reduce the level of bureaucracy and reduce wasted tax dollars. Secondly, they attempt to answer the looming question of equality and the creation of a multicultural society in Canada today. How to cite The Effect of Multiculturalism in Canadian Society, Papers