You and Your Racist Brain: The Neuroscience of Prejudice
Channel: The Royal Society of Victoria
Date: 2018-09-18

In large part, racism stems from the human brain’s tendency to engage in prejudice, a process that allows our brains to make judgements based on visual information in milliseconds. These preconceived opinions about other people are not based on reason or experience but on instinct — and they have a basis in neuroscience.

But why does the brain do this? More importantly, can we use what we know about the neuroscience of prejudice to overcome this reaction, potentially developing methods to combat prejudice and end racism?

Highlights from a talk and interview with neuroscientist Dr Larry Sherman of the Oregon Health & Science University, held at the Royal Society of Victoria on Saturday 18 August 2018 in partnership with RMIT University's School of Health & Biomedical Sciences as a part of National Science Week. The full video of Larry's presentation is available at https://youtu.be/r3N88xIWujE .