I’m afraid not. I suppose my best reconstruction of my thinking is that there is ample evidence of high levels of bias against marginal groups, often in cases where those involved appear to be unaware of it. Further, I know anecdotal cases of people like E who seem to fit the pattern. It occurs to me that I don’t have statistical evidence for the other side of my theory either; I’ve frequently encountered the observation that the MRAs/white supremicists/anti-semites/etc., the various hate group types, are disproportionately losers, but I don’t think I’ve seen any actual studies which demonstrate such a correlation[1]. In any event, I’ve presented what seems to me to be a plausible explanation of part of people’s tendency to underestimate bias against members of marginal groups. Still, people are prone to all sorts of highly inaccurate reasoning, as we so often discuss around here, and perhaps no special explanation of the tendency to underestimate the effects of bias is needed beyond that it’s the kind of complex phenomenon people aren’t very reliable about assessing. So of course you’re right that some relevant studies would be welcome.
[edit] I suppose I can think of one example that isn’t just personal anecdote. I’ve encountered an observation from feminists doing history of philosophy that there are a number of examples of women who were highly respected thinkers in their own times, despite the prevailing climate of sexism, but their influence tended not to extend beyond their lifetimes. It seems that could be a result of personality overcoming the effects of bias, with bias reasserting itself among later people who were never exposed to the personality, though admittedly that’s hardly the only possible explanation for the pattern.
[1] For example, Sartre makes this observation in “The Portrait of an Anti-Semite,” and Nietzsche made similar observations which may have influenced Sartre, but of course neither ever did controlled studies of anything.
I’m afraid not. I suppose my best reconstruction of my thinking is that there is ample evidence of high levels of bias against marginal groups, often in cases where those involved appear to be unaware of it. Further, I know anecdotal cases of people like E who seem to fit the pattern. It occurs to me that I don’t have statistical evidence for the other side of my theory either; I’ve frequently encountered the observation that the MRAs/white supremicists/anti-semites/etc., the various hate group types, are disproportionately losers, but I don’t think I’ve seen any actual studies which demonstrate such a correlation[1]. In any event, I’ve presented what seems to me to be a plausible explanation of part of people’s tendency to underestimate bias against members of marginal groups. Still, people are prone to all sorts of highly inaccurate reasoning, as we so often discuss around here, and perhaps no special explanation of the tendency to underestimate the effects of bias is needed beyond that it’s the kind of complex phenomenon people aren’t very reliable about assessing. So of course you’re right that some relevant studies would be welcome.
[edit] I suppose I can think of one example that isn’t just personal anecdote. I’ve encountered an observation from feminists doing history of philosophy that there are a number of examples of women who were highly respected thinkers in their own times, despite the prevailing climate of sexism, but their influence tended not to extend beyond their lifetimes. It seems that could be a result of personality overcoming the effects of bias, with bias reasserting itself among later people who were never exposed to the personality, though admittedly that’s hardly the only possible explanation for the pattern.
[1] For example, Sartre makes this observation in “The Portrait of an Anti-Semite,” and Nietzsche made similar observations which may have influenced Sartre, but of course neither ever did controlled studies of anything.