The Bell Curve Controversy: Race and Intelligence

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is a factor that can contribute to the persistence of racial wage gaps, according to the text?

  • The elimination of all forms of statistical discrimination.
  • The lack of sufficient minority population in some markets. (correct)
  • The prevalence of nondiscriminating firms.
  • The existence of perfect competition in labor markets.

What is the main argument of the "taste-based" explanation for discrimination?

  • Employers make assumptions about productivity based on social networks and connections.
  • Employers are inherently prejudiced against certain racial groups. (correct)
  • Employers operate in perfect market conditions, leading to rational discrimination.
  • Employers use statistical generalizations about race to make hiring decisions.

How do statistical discrimination models explain employers' preferences for excluding certain racial groups?

  • Employers are inherently prejudiced against those groups.
  • Employers are driven by purely economic factors to maximize profits.
  • Employers have better information about employees from their own racial group.
  • Employers make decisions based on observed and assumed differences in productivity. (correct)

What does the text suggest about the relationship between competition and discrimination in the labor market?

<p>Competition might be ineffective in driving out discriminatory firms in certain markets. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key difference between taste-based and statistical discrimination models?

<p>Taste-based models assume prejudice while statistical models assume rational generalizations about race. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The 'taste for exclusion' mentioned in the text refers to:

<p>The inclination to discriminate against certain racial groups based on prejudice or preference. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one potential consequence of employers having better information about certain groups of workers?

<p>Employers may engage in statistical discrimination and make assumptions about productivity based on race. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a factor that can influence whether discriminating firms are driven out of the market?

<p>Employee satisfaction and morale. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the authors of The Bell Curve, what was the primary reason for the growing divide between intelligent and unintelligent people?

<p>The increasing distribution of opportunities and resources based on merit rather than class or social status. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the most controversial claim made by the authors of The Bell Curve?

<p>The authors argued that racial differences in intelligence are at least partially due to genetic differences. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did critics of The Bell Curve respond to the authors' claim about genetic differences in intelligence?

<p>Critics argued that the authors' claims were based on flawed research and highlighted the influence of environmental factors on intelligence. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the authors of The Bell Curve mean by being "resolutely agnostic" on the question of the influence of genetic deficits?

<p>They believed that while genes play a role, the exact extent of their influence was unknown. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key argument made by critics of The Bell Curve?

<p>They argued that the book failed to adequately account for the influence of social class and education on individuals' intelligence. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a criticism mentioned in the text about The Bell Curve?

<p>The authors' use of outdated scientific data to support their claims. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do the authors mean by saying "the shape of the skull and brain size, and the genes for those traits, explained racial disparities"?

<p>They suggest that earlier scholars attempted to explain racial differences in intelligence through biological explanations. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main point the passage is trying to convey regarding explanations for persistent inequality?

<p>The passage highlights the difficulty of explaining persistent inequality, as different interpretations and approaches exist. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary reason economists suggest racial gaps persist in the labor market?

<p>Market imperfections leading to discriminatory preferences (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the economic theory, what role do irrational prejudices play in the job market?

<p>They lead to hiring practices that favor non-minority groups (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do employers' discriminatory preferences affect their economic competitiveness, according to the text?

<p>They impose costs that may lead to a competitive disadvantage (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do biologists acknowledge as a potential factor in racial gaps, despite favoring cultural explanations?

<p>Genetic predispositions (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Scholars have attributed the persistence of racial gaps to all EXCEPT which of the following?

<p>Unplanned urban development (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What challenge do scholars face regarding explanations for racial gaps?

<p>None has provided a completely satisfying answer (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a suggested factor contributing to racial gaps?

<p>Government interventions (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What concept from Gary Becker supports the notion that discriminatory employers will eventually lose out in the market?

<p>Taste for discrimination (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What concept explains the persistence of racial gaps due to subconscious beliefs about race?

<p>Subconscious bias (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of the Implicit Association Test (IAT)?

<p>To assess the strength of implicit racial biases (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which group was found to have an implicit bias in favor of whites during the IAT?

<p>Both self-identified whites and blacks (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How are response times interpreted in the Implicit Association Test?

<p>As evidence of implicit bias (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What criticism has been raised regarding the Implicit Association Test?

<p>It solely measures people's familiarity with stereotypes. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do psychologists suggest might motivate intentional discrimination according to perceived threats?

<p>Events like affirmative action or a black president's election (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a categorizing task used in the IAT?

<p>Pairing racial categories with pleasant or unpleasant emotions (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What general trend did the IAT results reveal about white and Asian participants?

<p>They demonstrated a bias in favor of whites against blacks. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What criticism do some have regarding the IAT scores and personal test-taking circumstances?

<p>IAT scores vary when the same person takes the test under different circumstances. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of hiring, how do IAT scores relate to employer decisions?

<p>IAT scores predict the quality of resumes assessed by employers. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What evidence did researchers use in Sweden to analyze discrimination in hiring?

<p>Resumes with ethnically varied names were sent to employers. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements reflects Oscar Lewis's argument about culture and poverty?

<p>A 'culture of poverty' exists leading to persistent inequality. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Lewis mean by 'a culture of poverty'?

<p>A lifestyle that can be inherited and passed through families. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do critics view the relationship between implicit bias and deliberative decision making?

<p>Implicit bias may also influence more thoughtful judgments. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Senator Moynihan, what key issue contributed to persistent poverty among American blacks?

<p>The disintegration of the traditional family structure. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was one of the criticisms regarding the definition of the culture of poverty?

<p>There was a lack of empirical evidence for its existence. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome for employers who scored higher on the IAT related to preferences for Muslims?

<p>They were less likely to call back candidates with Muslim-sounding names. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was a key point in the criticism of Moynihan's report?

<p>The indicators of the culture of poverty were overly factual. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following practices did Lewis associate with the 'culture of poverty'?

<p>Early initiation into sexual activity and high divorce rates. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did critics view the isolation that families of color experienced in violent neighborhoods?

<p>As a practical response to danger and violence. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What consensus do most scientists have regarding the IAT?

<p>It measures something important related to ongoing discrimination. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did sociologist William Julius Wilson emphasize about network connections in violent neighborhoods?

<p>They can be risky and thus are avoided. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happened to the culture explanation in the discourse around race during the 1970s?

<p>It declined in popularity but remained present. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was noted as a key cause of poverty in Moynihan's report that was largely ignored?

<p>Unemployment and underemployment. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Discredited Genetic Explanations

Early theories suggesting genetics determine racial gaps have been discredited.

Racial Gaps Theories

A variety of explanations exist for persistent racial disparities in society.

Economics of Discrimination

Economists argue racial gaps persist due to taste-based discrimination in imperfect markets.

Taste-based Discrimination

Employers may prefer not to hire certain racial groups due to irrational prejudices.

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Gary Becker’s Theory

The economist suggested market forces would eliminate discrimination if perfect competition existed.

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Market Imperfections

When markets do not operate optimally, allowing discrimination to persist.

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Competitive Market Forces

In theory, they should eliminate tastes for discrimination over time.

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Cost of Discrimination

Discriminating practices incur costs that should theoretically drive employers out of the market.

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The Bell Curve

A controversial book by Herrnstein and Murray arguing intelligence divides are widening.

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Cognitive Elite

Highly intelligent individuals who have more opportunities.

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IQ Differences

Variations in intelligence scores among different racial groups.

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Genetic Influence

The assertion that genetics play a role in racial IQ differences.

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Criticism of The Bell Curve

The backlash against the book's claims, questioning its scientific basis.

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Role of Environment

The impact of social conditions and education on IQ scores.

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Inheritance and Class

Factors that may affect intelligence beyond genetics.

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Scientific Ideology

Using science to back ideological beliefs, as criticized in The Bell Curve.

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Subconscious Bias

The automatic and unconscious beliefs about others based on their race.

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Implicit Association Test (IAT)

A test that measures implicit biases by analyzing reaction times to categorization tasks.

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Racial Categorization

The process of classifying individuals based on their race.

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Response Times

The speed at which subjects react to categorization tasks in the IAT.

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Bias Measurement

Using the difference in response times to indicate implicit bias favoring one group over another.

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Stereotypical Beliefs

Generalized beliefs about a group that can lead to bias and discrimination.

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Cultural Familiarity

Knowledge and understanding of cultural stereotypes that may influence IAT results.

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Salience of Racial Identity

The prominence of one racial identity in the context of categorization.

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Discrimination in Hiring

The practice of favoring one group over another in the hiring process based on race or ethnicity.

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Perfect Market Competition

An ideal market where all players are rational and transactions happen without barriers.

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Nondiscriminating Employers

Firms that hire workers based on merit, not race or ethnicity, leading to lower operational costs.

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Taste for Exclusion

The preference of some employers to avoid hiring certain racial groups, which can persist in the market.

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Rational Discrimination

A theory suggesting employers exclude certain workers based on perceived productivity differences.

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Statistical Discrimination

Employers make assumptions about a worker's productivity based on race or gender generalizations.

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Social Networks Impact

The influence of employer's connections on their perception of worker productivity, often favoring white workers.

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Empirical Factors

Real-world elements that affect discrimination, such as market competition and demographics.

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Implicit Bias

Unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that affect understanding, actions, and decisions.

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IAT (Implicit Association Test)

A psychological test measuring implicit biases through reaction times.

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Deliberative Decision Making

Careful and intentional decision-making process, involving analysis and thought.

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Correlation of IAT and Hiring

IAT scores can predict employer biases in assessing resumes.

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Culture of Poverty

A theory suggesting a subculture develops among the poor, perpetuating poverty.

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Oscar Lewis

Anthropologist who proposed the 'culture of poverty' theory.

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Racial Discrimination

Unfair treatment based on an individual's race or ethnicity.

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Employer Callbacks

The process by which employers reach out to candidates after reviewing resumes.

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Moynihan Report

A controversial 1960s report linking poverty in blacks to family structure issues.

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Crumbled Family Structure

Refers to the breakdown of traditional family relationships in urban ghettos.

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Key Causes of Poverty

Factors such as unemployment and underemployment highlighted in poverty discussions.

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Criticism of Cultural Definition

Challenges to defining and proving a culture of poverty passed down generationally.

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Rational Responses to Poverty

Behavioral adaptations seen as logical in the context of poverty, not pathological.

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Neighborhood Isolation

The practice of distancing from outside networks due to living conditions.

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Sociologist William Julius Wilson

A sociologist who argued that isolation in violent neighborhoods is a rational choice.

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Study Notes

The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same

  • Herrnstein and Murray's book, "The Bell Curve," argued that the gap between intelligent and unintelligent people was widening, due to merit-based distribution of resources.
  • They suggested racial differences in IQ were partly genetic, particularly between blacks and whites.
  • Their work was controversial and heavily criticized for its scientific weakness, mathematical errors, and perceived racism.
  • Previous attempts to explain racial gaps have used genetic explanations like skull shape and brain size, but these are no longer considered valid.

Economic Explanations

  • Economists suggest racial gaps persist due to discrimination preferences (taste-based discrimination).
  • Taste-based discrimination occurs when employers prefer one race over another.
  • This discrimination can also be influenced by other workers and consumers.
  • Economists like Gary Becker argue that perfect competition can drive out discriminatory practices, but perfect competition doesn't always exist.
  • Statistical discrimination occurs when employers make generalizations about a worker's productivity based on observable traits like race.

Biology and Social Science Explanations

  • Genetic explanations have been proposed by biologists since the early 20th century, though more sophisticated forms have emerged, like those in "The Bell Curve."
  • Explicit racial bias appears to have decreased compared to earlier periods.
  • Studies involving resumes with names of different races show that discriminatory hiring might still happen subtly.

Cultural Explanations

  • Anthropologist Oscar Lewis proposed a "culture of poverty."
  • The idea of a culture of poverty explains racial gaps in well being in terms of cultural practices.
  • Senator Moynihan argued that poverty in African American communities stemmed from a breakdown of social structures.
  • Critics argued that culture was hard to define, and that many of the practices were rational responses to poverty.
  • Some scholars, like Thomas Sowell and Abigail and Stephan Thernstrom, have argued cultural factors might contribute to the racial gap.
  • Sociologist William Julius Wilson argued that "cultural deficits" are rational responses to structural problems, not cultural deficits.

Structural Conditions and Feedback Loops

  • Structural conditions include aspects like residential segregation, unemployment, and the mismatch between job locations and residents' homes.
  • Cultural practices include shared values, goals, attitudes towards law enforcement and female headed kinship networks.
  • These conditions influence each other, creating a feedback loop that perpetuates racial inequality.
  • Economist Glenn Loury's model illustrates how group membership, skills, income, race and wealth shape each other across generations.

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