Race and Moral Psychology

Abstract

AbstractWhat effects does a racially stratified social world have on our individual psychologies, and our moral interactions with one another? In what ways do our psychologies hinder or enable us in working toward a more racially just society? This chapter surveys a range of moral psychological phenomena––broadly construed––using diverse philosophical and empirical approaches, including racial bias, discrimination, prejudice, stereotyping, intergroup dynamics, alienation, double consciousness, racial identity, and combating racism. More specifically, the chapter focuses on outlining the differential impact of racial categorization on racially dominant versus racially oppressed groups, as well as some core topics in moral psychology as they manifest in the context of a racially unjust society. Some recurring themes include the twin moral and epistemic quandaries generated by racism, the interaction between individual psychology and social structure, and intersections with other forms of oppression.