Modern Wisdom – #665 – Cory Clark – 5 Forbidden Topics That Psychology Won’t Discuss

Intro

In this episode of the “Modern Wisdom” podcast, host Corey Clark discusses five forbidden topics that psychology won’t discuss. He explores the biases and controversies within academia and how they impact the field of psychology. Clark delves into the gender biases that exist in academia and society, the consequences of prioritizing harm concerns over pursuing the truth, and the challenges faced by researchers in studying controversial topics. Join him as he uncovers the hidden truths and challenges the status quo in the world of psychology.

Main Takeaways

Gender Biases in Psychology

• Women have fundamentally changed the culture of academia, and there is an anti-female bias.
• Gender biases in psychology often favor women over men.
• Society may be more biased towards protecting women, leading to neglect of biases against men.
• Discrimination based on gender still exists in some parts of the world in 2023.
• Some scholars have looked at potential bias against women in academia and found that it’s possible students are slightly biased against women in their teaching evaluations.

Biases and Narratives

• Mainstream narratives may focus on anti-female biases because we care more about biases against women, potentially due to their evolutionary value.
• Cross-cultural differences and differences over time suggest that this is not the only reason for anti-female biases.
• Cultural narratives of women being disadvantaged for a long time have led to corrective measures that may disadvantage men.
• Gamma bias is the tendency for popular news media to sex the headline if the article is pro-women or anti-men, causing a skew in the way people see the world.
• The way that society responds to biases against women is different from the way it responds to biases against men.

Gender Differences and Academia

• Women are dominating at the undergraduate and graduate levels and are now the majority of faculty in academia.
• The increase in women in academia has led to a shift in cultural values prioritizing the values of women.
• Academic journals have put out editorials that prioritize harm concerns and protecting vulnerable people over pursuing the truth.
• Women are taking over academia and holding more positions of power, including as editors of academic journals and presidents of professional societies.
• The gender composition of academia has inevitable consequences, with some people being better at things than others and benefiting from it.

Controversial Conclusions and Bias

• Evolutionary psychology and behavioral genetics draw controversial conclusions regarding group differences.
• People who believe controversial conclusions are true are self-sensoring, leading to a distorted perception of scientific consensus.
• Female psychology professors are more likely to support ostracizing scholars who forward controversial conclusions.
• Conclusions that portray vulnerable or disadvantaged groups more negatively than powerful or advantageous groups are controversial.
• Basic behavioral genetic and evolutionary psychology explanations, even if they favor underrepresented groups, may be pushed away due to political inconvenience.

Academic Freedom and Bias

• Academia has been accused of discriminating against conservatives, with some academics admitting to discriminating against conservatives in hiring and other areas.
• Political bias is often stronger than racial bias, and politics can reveal more about a person than their race.
• Prejudice against different accents is sometimes more prevalent than prejudice against different skin colors.
• Preference falsification creates a precarious situation because people may be more willing to speak out if they find out their views are the majority.
• Demography is destiny when it comes to university intake and the number of male professors is shrinking as fewer men go to undergrad and more women dominate certain fields.

Summary

Gender Biases in Psychology

Academia, once considered a bastion of intellectual purity, is not immune to biases and discrimination. Gender biases in psychology often favor women over men, and there is evidence of an anti-female bias in academia. While society may be more biased towards protecting women, biases against men are often neglected. Discrimination based on gender still exists in certain parts of the world, and research suggests that students may hold slight biases against women in their teaching evaluations. These biases and imbalances highlight the need for greater awareness and efforts to address gender biases in psychology and academia.

Biases and Narratives

Mainstream narratives in psychology and academia often focus on anti-female biases, reflecting society’s greater concern for biases against women. This may be due to the evolutionary value placed on protecting women as a limited resource. However, cross-cultural differences and changes over time indicate that there are other factors contributing to anti-female biases. Cultural narratives of women being disadvantaged have led to corrective measures that may unintentionally disadvantage men. The presence of gamma bias in popular news media further skews people’s perception of biases in the world.

Gender Differences and Academia

The gender composition of academia has undergone significant changes, with women now dominating at the undergraduate, graduate, and faculty levels. This shift has resulted in a change in cultural values, prioritizing the perspectives and interests of women. Academic journals have also prioritized harm concerns and protecting vulnerable groups over pursuing the truth. The increasing presence of women in academia, including in positions of power, has inevitable consequences, with some individuals benefiting from these changes. However, it is important to consider the potential impact on the robustness and objectivity of academic research.

Controversial Conclusions and Bias

Controversial conclusions drawn from fields such as evolutionary psychology and behavioral genetics often spark heated debates. These conclusions may touch on sensitive topics such as group differences based on gender or race. People who believe in these controversial conclusions may self-sensor, leading to a distorted perception of scientific consensus. Female psychology professors, in particular, may be more inclined to support ostracizing scholars who forward controversial conclusions. The political inconvenience of these conclusions can also push them away, even if they favor underrepresented groups. This highlights the need for open and unbiased discussions within the field of psychology.

Academic Freedom and Bias

Academic freedom is crucial for the pursuit of knowledge and truth. However, academia has been accused of discriminating against conservatives, and political bias can be stronger than racial bias. Prejudice against different accents is sometimes more prevalent than prejudice against different skin colors. Preference falsification, where individuals hide their true beliefs to protect their jobs or reputations, creates a precarious situation. The changing demography of university intake and the shrinking number of male professors raise concerns about the potential impact on academic diversity and perspectives. These issues highlight the importance of fostering an inclusive and intellectually diverse academic environment.

Conclusion

The world of psychology and academia is not immune to biases, controversies, and evolving dynamics. Gender biases, controversial conclusions, and political influences shape the field and its narratives. It is crucial to acknowledge and address these biases to ensure a more objective and inclusive pursuit of knowledge. Academic freedom, open discussions, and a commitment to pursuing the truth are essential for the advancement of psychology and society as a whole. By understanding and challenging the status quo, we can strive for a more unbiased and intellectually robust future.