- Dr Frederick K Johnson of J|COM Innovation & Design Lab, USA, tackles the rise of race-based division and political violence in the United States.
- He confronts the role of social media in deepening societal rifts.
- Can acknowledging racism as a behavioral disorder alter our strategy for resolving it?
- Johnson’s research champions addressing racism through mental health avenues, promoting forgiveness, and advocating for social media regulations to foster healing and unity within society.
At a time when societal division seems more pronounced than ever, a study by Dr Frederick K Johnson sheds new light on an old adversary: racism. Johnson posits a bold and unconventional notion, suggesting racism could be classified as a behavioral disorder. The proposition is not just a statement but a call to action – a plea for society to recognize the profound scars racism inflicts on both individuals and communities. Johnson’s research, presented as a ‘primer’, fortifies this argument by meticulously detailing the multifaceted nature of racism and its detrimental effects not only on individuals and communities but also on societal structures at large.
The root of division
Racism’s legacy is a tapestry woven through the fabric of its deep-seated history, its threads taut with the tension of division. Johnson’s research suggests that the recent uptick in political violence in the US, particularly violence rooted in racial discord such as the death of George Floyd, is not an isolated phenomenon.
The role of historical context cannot be overstated, nor can the influences – social, political, and, notably, digital – that shape public perception and behavior. Social media emerges as a double-edged sword, as he counts it as a platform for propaganda, connecting us for better or worse, amplifying voices that may otherwise have remained on society’s fringes, while inflating minor issues and or diminishing significant problems altogether.
Key elements of racism
Johnson’s research asserts that racism’s core elements – prejudice, stereotyping, discrimination, power, structural and institutional racism, and internalised racism – are interconnected in a cyclical feedback loop that in turn perpetuates systemic racism. These elements collectively evoke a psychological distress akin to a behavioral disorder.
Furthermore, Johnson explores how media and entertainment industries exacerbate the issue of racism by normalizing and profiting from racist stereotypes and behaviors, reinforcing this destructive cycle and hindering the advancement towards a fair and equitable society.
A call for classification
What if we could approach racism not merely as a societal ill but as a treatable condition? This is the crux of Johnson’s argument.
What if we could approach racism not merely as a societal ill but as a treatable condition?
By classifying racism as a behavioral disorder, we pave the way for individuals to seek help and to begin the journey of healing, which is the second part of atonement. This isn’t a mere academic exercise; it’s about extending the discourse beyond condemnation to that of forgiveness and finally, reconciliation.
Behavioral disorders: A mirror to racism?
Contemporary theories suggest that racism is a complex phenomenon that involves learned behaviors from our environment, cognitive biases that shape how we perceive and categorize others, and unresolved internal conflicts from early experiences. This multidisciplinary view indicates that tackling racism requires addressing observable behaviors, unconscious prejudices, and the psychological underpinnings that sustain discriminatory beliefs and actions.
Johnson’s research draws from these theories and parallels between extreme racism (ie, white supremacy) and recognized behavioral disorders, suggesting that if racism exhibits similar characteristics – distress, impairment, sociopathy, narcissism – why not categorise it likewise? The comparison is stark and challenging, inviting in a recognition of the way that racism affects not only the wellbeing of victims, but also that of perpetrators. Could understanding racism through this prism of mental health foster a deeper comprehension and a more effective response?
The power of atonement
Framing racism in this way encourages racist individuals and institutions to recognize and seek the possibility of recovery. This concept of social amends is poignant. It recognizes the need for individual and societal healing, drawing from the deep wells of religious and philosophical traditions. Forgiveness and atonement are not merely personal milestones but societal events that can address the historical and institutionalized complicity in racism.
Healing generational wounds
This research recognizes that dismantling racism means confronting transgenerational trauma, which requires a long-term and multi-generational approach. Reclassifying racism could revolutionize how society deals with this affliction, potentially healing wounds that have festered across generations.
It’s an ambitious vision, one that sees beyond the individual to the societal fabric that must be rewoven.
Navigating the digital landscape
Social media’s pervasive influence on public opinion and behavior warrants a closer look. The research calls for regulations to mitigate the spread of ‘emotional contagion’ and ‘social identity pollution’. It is a clarion call for ‘social tipping’ – a movement where early adopters lead the way, encouraging others to seek help and promote anti-racist behavior within their communities.
Rethinking our approach to racism
The culmination of this discussion is a transformative thought: reclassify racism, not to diminish its gravity, but to tackle it with the full arsenal of mental health resources. It’s about creating a societal ecosystem where forgiveness and progress are interlinked, where individuals and communities can embark on a shared journey of atonement.
Johnson’s research is a primer for basic understanding designed to evoke individual- and community-level change. It challenges readers to consider not just the impact of racism on the present, but its insidious tendrils that reach into the past and future. In doing so, it advocates for a shift in perspective – one that could potentially set the stage for healing on a grand scale.
Could understanding racism through the prism of mental health foster a deeper comprehension and a more effective response?
This conversation about racism, laden with history and charged with emotion, is complex. Yet, this type of research offers a beacon of hope. By engaging with its propositions, we embark on a path that might lead to genuine understanding and lasting change. It is a call for systemic change, advocating for a future where racism is not just acknowledged but actively treated and eradicated, ultimately leading to a society where equality and respect for all individuals are the foundational principles. It’s a path that requires us to be clear, concise, and most importantly, courageous.
What inspired you to explore the concept of racism as a behavioral disorder, and were there any personal experiences that influenced your decision to pursue this research?
My research and the creation of the paper, Classifying racism as a behavioral disorder: A primer for all, were influenced by brief LinkedIn conversations with Dr J Luke Wood, President of California State University, Sacramento, and Heliana Ramirez, PhD, an independent researcher and clinical consultant. Additionally, my personal experiences with racism while growing up within an interracial family significantly shaped my perspective, and on how I believe society needs to reconsider its approach to addressing racism.
In your study, you propose a reclassification of racism to facilitate treatment through mental health channels. Can you share an example of how this might work in practice?
When we think of racism from a structural or institutional standpoint, the common thread is people, particularly a select group in positions of power. These individuals wield influence over our social structures, policies, and institutions, injecting their personal views, political ideologies, and values, often centered around racism and rooted in white supremacy.
At its core, the predominant view is that much of our understanding of racism stems from learned behavior whether it be from family, culture, or society. As a socially constructed concept, anyone should be allowed to address their views on race by examining the origins of their feelings and taking effective steps toward personal change. This process can evolve at an individual’s own pace, akin to how we address other challenges like depression, mental illness, or relationship issues from counseling through the existing mental health channels.
How do you envision social media regulations to mitigate the spread of racism, and what challenges do you anticipate in implementing such regulations?
I believe existing social media regulations designed to mitigate the dissemination of racism already exist within the terms of use policies. However, the challenge is social media platforms are reluctant to remove hate and racist content because of their financial interests at play, coupled with the potential for paying clients who want to influence consumers on a local, regional, or global scale. Therefore, there is more incentive to allow this type of discourse and influence. This type of influence is exerted through widespread use of social media bots used in serval types of marketing campaigns, direct user marketing, corporate surveillance via data collection, and geopolitical propaganda.
The concept of social amends is quite powerful. How do you think communities can effectively engage in this process to foster true healing and atonement?
Social amends is a powerful and undeniably necessary force in propelling our country forward, and communities across the nation are already effectively participating in this transformative process. Atonement, or making amends involves individuals, communities, or organizations taking action to rectify past wrongdoings. This can be achieved through direct efforts to reverse the consequences of those actions, undertaking equivalent positive actions for others, or expressing remorse for the wrongdoing.
A notable example of this initiative is evident in several US states, including California, which has organized a Reparations Task Force. Additionally, some states have allocated funds initiatives supporting mortgages and real estate purchases, signaling a commitment to fostering positive change. This collective endeavor marks the beginning of our journey towards social amends.
Looking ahead, what do you see as the next steps in your research, and how do you hope it will impact societal change?
The next steps in my research involves going deeper into the aspects of racism as a behavioral disorder. I aim to explore comprehensive strategies for addressing and mitigating this issue on both individual and societal levels. By further examining the intersections of race, behavior, systemic factors, and technology, I hope to contribute valuable insights that can provide effective interventions and policy recommendations.
In terms of societal impact, my goal is to enable a paradigm shift in how we perceive and address racism. By sharing research and engaging in constructive dialogue, I want to first promote awareness, then understanding, and ultimately, leverage this momentum as a catalyst for positive change, influencing attitudes, policies, and practices to create a more inclusive country.
