Where Bias Begins

[ntg187]

Psychologists once believed that only bigoted people used stereotypes. Now the study of unconscious bias is revealing the unsettling truth: We all use stereotypes, all the time, without knowing it. We have met the enemy of equality, and the enemy is us.

The study of cognition (ushered in by the cognitive revolution of the 1970's, an explosion of psychological research into the way people think) made the simple but profound point that we all use categories - of people, places, things - to make sense of the world around us. Our ability to categorize and evaluate is an important part of human intelligence. In the course of stereotyping, a useful category - say, foreigner or in this case farang - becomes freighted with additional associations which are usually negative in nature. When we use stereotypes, we take in everything present before us - gender, age, skin color, nationality, physical traits, vocabulary, accent, known interests, etc. - and our mind responds with messages that say hostile, stupid, slow, weak.

Social psychologists believe stereotypes may emerge from what is called in-group/out-group dynamics. Humans, like other species, need to feel that they are part of a group, and as villages, clans, and other traditional groupings have broken down, our identities have attached themselves to more ambiguous classifications, such as race and class. We want to feel good about the group we belong to - and one way of doing so is to denigrate all those who aren't in it. And while we tend to see members of our own group as individuals, we view those in out-groups as an undifferentiated-stereotyped-mass.

Now the most interesting breakdown appears when a foreign element is entered into the equation. This element is all of us - those living and visiting Thailand. Instead of foreigners identifying themselves as their own unique group as a whole - as in foreigner showing a lack of bias to all other foreigners - they tend to identify themselves belonging to a group based on the location they have emigrated to. This phenomenon is even more interesting since the majority of those who already make up that group would not consider the foreigner to be a member of it. This simply means that the Thai locals would never accept you into the grouping they belong to based upon you already belonging to another group - that of a farang.

This raises many psychological and sociological questions as to why all ex-pats living in Thailand do not consider themselves to be of the same social grouping. Or rather more importantly why we continue to be biased towards one another. Interestingly enough, the dynamics of the psychological human condition become immeasurable once anonymity is added into the mix - or rather to suggest that our species as a whole is much more timid in face-to-face dealings and that disrespectful comments and insults between board members would not take place if the topic were to be discussed during a real life meeting.

So now that we have established that regardless of age, gender, color, creed, nationality, hobbies, income, residence, and etc. that you are and will always be a member of the social group of foreigner and should identify with said group that would go a long way in relieving a lot of bias in our communities.

[CharlieH]

For thos that cant be bothered to read long posts, the above in short, you"re a ferang, deal with it.

Edited November 13, 2013 by CharlieH

[vincent13]

Interesting commentary...

I must say how disconcerting and disappointing I find the large number of posts on TV based on stereotyping, especially those directed at Thais and Thailand. I only hope that not many Thais read TV!

I wonder how those making such posts would feel if a group of foreign nationals resident in their country used a forum such as this to denigrate their host country and its citizens.

[Nowhereman60]

Does this have something to do with Thailand, if so please keep it short and simple for me.

[h90]

"Psychologists once believed that only bigoted people used stereotypes. Now the study of unconscious bias is revealing the unsettling truth: We all use stereotypes, all the time, without knowing it."

Now is approx. 200 years ago......

Of course if we see a dog, we put the basic properties of dogs on it and don't recheck how it reacts.

If we see a car we know the basic features and don't recheck if it may give milk like a cow.

If we see a person with brown skin and black hair, we'll apply the stereotype for Thais on it.

Most probably speaks Thai and not German

Most probably a local person and not a tourist from Norway

Most probably prefers rice of Swedish Meatballs

If they see a white-pinkish with long nose, they think

Most probably a Tourist, with small probably of being Expat

Most probably speaks poor Thai but good English

Most probably relative wealthy else he/she couldn't travel

We always weight new impressions on base of experience. No different if it is some tools or people.

[kikoman]

For those that bothered to read it is a great indication of what drives those that greatly dislike Thai's and Thailand and all associated with those dislikes.

Also for the attacks on those of us that do not share their distrust/dislike for anything Thai. As not agreeing with them you do not belong to their "Falang" group and are considered a Thai lover.

Which in my case is the TRUTH!

Cheers