3 ms·
This is a novel finding and does help parse out the difference between how gender bias and racial bias form. That said, I wish people would stop talking about
by carbocation 17y ago
This is a novel finding and does help parse out the difference between how gender bias and racial bias form.
That said, I wish people would stop talking about Williams syndrome as if it were, on the whole, desirable. Yes, these people are blessed with some desirable traits. They are also cursed with cardiovascular defects such as aortic and pulmonary stenosis; renal defects; vitamin D metabolic defects; and often delayed development. Not to mention that their most desirable trait — a lack of social fear which makes them very friendly — is incredibly maladaptive in most circumstances.
- tokenadult 17y agoThis is a novel finding Yes, that is why I would look for replication of the finding, including replications with different ways of estimating racial prejudice, before accepting that this generalizes to the whole human population. But it's always a good idea to do research on a long-standing interesting issue (racism) with a new study population (Williams syndrome patients). An astrophysicist who was one of my undergraduate teachers said that one can often make a great scientific discovery simply by putting a scientific instrument where it has never been before. (His example was putting a Geiger counter into earth orbit, which discovered the Van Allen belts.) Similarly, doing this or that kind of psychological or sociological assessment or surveying can find new results if it happens with new subjects.
- dabent 17y ago>I wish people would stop talking about Williams syndrome as if it were, on the whole, desirable. I have a relative with WS. She's got a great personality, but has health issues that no one would want. Her intelligence is also well below average and she can't live on her own.