Thread by @FoodAndPsych

I'd like to add a psych perspective to the disturbing and disappointing behaviour of Shaun Beagley and the responses of those around him.

Context: london.eater.com/2018/7/13/1756…

First though, Mimi Aye (@meemalee) and others deserve a lot of respect for pushing on this. It's shown that when minority individuals stand up against racism they are perceived more negatively than when a white person does the same. So they have taken a risk in doing so.

What's disturbing about this is that other high profile and influential people in the London food scene either overtly (with praise) or covertly (with likes and follows) endorsed him.

It's important to remember that we are *socialised by our peers*.

For example: whatever the background, children pick up the accent of their school friends rather than the accent of their parents/family.

For adults, another way of thinking about this is that 'you are the average of the people you spend the most time with'.

People who endorsed him are now asking themselves 'hard questions', which is a start. Some psychological context to guide those questions might be helpful:
1. Cognitive Dissonance - our difficulty holding two opposing views simultaneously
2. Bystander Apathy
3. Willful Blindness

Cognitive Dissonance wants us to easily resolve internal contradictions.🙄
Premise 1: Racism is bad
Premise 2: My friends are good
Event: My friend is being racist
Resolution 1: He is not my friend
Resolution 2: He's not really being racist.

A bunch of people took option 2.

Bystander apathy/Diffusion of responsibility 🤷🏼‍♂️

"Other people can see it. They can say something. It's not my job" OR "Other people have seen it and haven't said anything so it can't be that bad."

This becomes covert endorsement.

Willful Blindness🙈

"I suspect something isn't cool here but I'm not going to look in to it enough to give myself a full picture, so I don't have to have an opinion on it or feel like I have to do something about it.'

This is, at best, lazy, at worst, a kind of moral cowardice.

Also, we're British so we don't want to rock the boat. But if you're not willing to rock the boat then you have to accept your position *IN* the boat.
As an oarsman.
Rowing to Racism Island. 🚣🏿‍♂️

Obviously, this is relevant to any other egregious behaviour we see in our friends: dishonesty, sexism, violence etc. You are the average of the people you spend most time with. You are your friendship group. This is our responsibility to ourselves and each other.

The antidote to this is to RAISE YOUR OWN STANDARDS.

Understand what your values are. Be clear on them in yourself and then expect the same of your friends.

'Hey, please don't use racist language around me. I don't find it acceptable.'

It might be awkward at the beginning but this become a self-regulating system. Either a) your friends stop using racist language around you (good start) b) they stop using racist language altogether (progress) or

c) they self-select to a different friendship group where they can be openly racist (or any prejudice of their choosing).

In the meantime you have demonstrated integrity, upheld your values and upgraded your peer group.

Start with yourself. Raise your own standards.