« Bad Idea of the Day: Governments Prescribing Heroin
Technology Plays Key Role in Mumbai Attacks, Both for Terrorists and Civilians »

People Are Racist in the Virtual World, Too

submit to reddit

Ever since their inception and hasty popularity rise, Second Life and its virtual cohorts have been a fascinating fishbowl into human nature. With their near-limitless possibilities for meeting, dating, battling, selling to, and influencing strangers, these cyber-worlds are perfect for studying the ways we behave and interact—both the beautiful and the ugly. And there’s been plenty of the latter to go around, from rape to infidelity to theft—in other words, all the same cruelty, discourtesy, and immorality that goes on in real life, only in a smaller, more publicly track-able format.

As such, it should be no surprise that the prejudices that play out in regular society—such as, oh, say, racism—also manifest in virtual worlds. In a new paper published online in Social Influence, Northwestern University professor Wendi Gardner and grad student Paul Eastwick found that avatars with darker skin in the virtual world There.com (a close cousin to Second Life) were less likely to have a basic request granted by another avatar.

The researchers had 416 participants/avatars make 2 back-to-back requests of another avatar. The first was to teleport to 50 virtual locations and allow the requester to take a screenshot at each one (a royal pain in the cyber-rear). The second, more reasonable request was to travel to a single beach and let the asker take a screenshot.

For those requesting avatars that were white, 20 percent more people said yes to the second request. For African American-looking avatars, the increase was only 8 percent. What does this mean? As Sharon Begley of Newsweek put it:

[B]ack in the real world, decades of psychology studies have shown that whether or not someone agrees to a request under these experimental conditions—and also in real life—depends on whether they think the requester is worthy of impressing, For dark-skin avatars, apparently, the answer is, not so much.

So much for the end of racism.

December 2nd, 2008 Tags: , , ,
by Melissa Lafsky in Science & Gender | 30 comments | RSS feed | Trackback >

30 Responses to “People Are Racist in the Virtual World, Too”

  1. 1.   Daniel Says:
    December 2nd, 2008 at 4:28 pm

    You linked to an article that calls Israel an apartheid state, apparently anti-semitism isn’t dead either (though I’m sure the author doesn’t hate all Jews, just those that defend themselves), I guess I’ll stick to National Geographic, Smithsonian, and Popular Science

  2. 2.   Left_Wing_Fox Says:
    December 3rd, 2008 at 7:01 pm

    Funny, that ‘Right to protect ourselves” was one of the common refrains of American whites to prevent Title IV integration attempts. Fears that black riots would move into white neighbourhoods caused whites to riot anytime it was attempted.

  3. 3.   Heartburn Home Remedy Says:
    April 15th, 2009 at 7:30 am

    My friend on Orkut shared this link and I’m not dissapointed that I came to your blog.

  4. 4.   Foreclosure Help Says:
    September 21st, 2009 at 3:41 pm

    I found your blog because I wanted more information on your expertise. I run a foreclosure blog and I am looking for good content to link to for future posts. I like you site so I am adding you to my google reader.

  5. 5.   Real Economy Still Sucks; Virtual Economy Booming | Discoblog | Discover Magazine Says:
    October 5th, 2009 at 12:39 pm

    [...] Content: Reality Base: People Are Racist in the Virtual World, Too Discoblog: When Technology Gets Creepy: Giving Birth in Second Life DISCOVER: Can Training in [...]

  6. 6.   feng Says:
    October 7th, 2009 at 3:49 am

    Our is a website of selling game online gold. and we have a number of customers, Our specialty is to make a long-term relationship across multiple game players. In meeting the demand of game players to buy, sell and trade in-game currencies and items, we provides gamers with fast transactions, 24-hour customer service and transactional security guaranteed.

    Our is intercommunion and trade flat roof of dofus kamas,cabal alz,age of conan gold,2moons dil,eve isk,flyff penya,maplestory mesos,RF gold,Aion kina,Wonderland Gold,Rose zuly,Knight Noah,lotro gold,cheap kamas,bug,一键代发 and more online games. At the meaning time we have instanted reliable delivery methods . We are offering the safe , circumspect and 100% service.

    We will provide you the best 7/24 online service; you could get in touch with us by live chat or MSN at all times!

  7. 7.   Abbey Says:
    October 26th, 2009 at 2:50 pm

    [url="http://www.arkhamgames.com/viagra.html"]viagra pills[/url] viagra http://www.arkhamgames.com/viagra.html >:-DD

  8. 8.   xc Says:
    October 31st, 2009 at 10:34 am

    nike shoes
    discount shoes
    nike afl shoes
    nike air max shoes
    nike shox

    Fashion Tiffany Jewelry
    Tiffany
    Watches
    Rings
    Charms
    Earrings
    Necklace

    edhardy caps bikini
    bikini
    swimwear
    caps
    hats

    Computer Accessories
    Bluetooth
    Audio Video
    Memory Card
    Baby Monitor
    Computer Accessories
    Software
    Flash Memory Drive
    Home Audi

    2009uggs
    tiffany watches
    tiffany jewelry
    relica tiffany
    replica watches

    [url=http://www.commonshoes.com/]nike shoes[/url]
    [url=http://www.commonshoes.com/]discount shoes[/url]
    [url=http://www.commonshoes.com/]nike afl shoes[/url]
    [url=http://www.commonshoes.com/]nike air max shoes[/url]
    [url=http://www.commonshoes.com/]nike shox[/url]

    [url=http://www.fashiontiffany.org/]Fashion Tiffany Jewelry[/url]
    [url=http://www.fashiontiffany.org/]Tiffany[/url]
    [url=http://www.fashiontiffany.org/]Watches[/url]
    [url=http://www.fashiontiffany.org/]Rings[/url]
    [url=http://www.fashiontiffany.org/]Charms[/url]
    [url=http://www.fashiontiffany.org/]Earrings[/url]
    [url=http://www.fashiontiffany.org/]Necklace[/url]

    [url=http://www.edhardycounty.com/]edhardy caps bikini[/url]
    [url=http://www.edhardycounty.com/]bikini[/url]
    [url=http://www.edhardycounty.com/]swimwear[/url]
    [url=http://www.edhardycounty.com/]caps[/url]
    [url=http://www.edhardycounty.com/]hats[/url]

    [url=http://www.theipodonline.com/]Computer Accessories[/url]
    [url=http://www.theipodonline.com/]Bluetooth[/url]
    [url=http://www.theipodonline.com/]Audio Video[/url]
    [url=http://www.theipodonline.com/]Memory Card[/url]
    [url=http://www.theipodonline.com/]Baby Monitor[/url]
    [url=http://www.theipodonline.com/]Computer Accessories[/url]
    [url=http://www.theipodonline.com/]Software[/url]
    [url=http://www.theipodonline.com/]Flash Memory Drive[/url]
    [url=http://www.theipodonline.com/]Home Audi[/url]

    [url=http://www.uggg.org/]2009uggs[/url]
    [url=http://www.goldtiffanyjewelry.com/]tiffany watches[/url]
    [url=http://www.goldtiffanyjewelry.com/]tiffany watches[/url]
    [url=http://www.replicatiffany.net/]relica tiffany[/url]
    [url=http:/www.watches-online.org/]replica watches[/url]

    nike shoes
    discount shoes
    nike afl shoes
    nike air max shoes
    nike shox

    Fashion Tiffany Jewelry
    Tiffany
    Watches
    Rings
    Charms
    Earrings
    Necklace

    edhardy caps bikini
    bikini
    swimwear
    caps
    hats

    Computer Accessories
    Bluetooth
    Audio Video
    Memory Card
    Baby Monitor
    Computer Accessories
    Software
    Flash Memory Drive
    Home Audi

    2009uggs
    tiffany watches
    tiffany jewelry
    relica tiffany
    replica watches

  9. 9.   中国SEO Says:
    November 5th, 2009 at 3:06 am

    百度やGoogleの検索エンジンで上位表示なら中国SEO。
    中国検索エンジンサービス上海SEO
    家居饰品,家居装饰,家居建材,家居家具,厨房用品,纺织用品家居用品
    家居用品-当当网| 官方网站商品促销推荐家居饰品
    Google,百度搜索引擎|搜索引擎优化|网络营销上海SEO
    网络营销搜索引擎优化

  10. 10.   Replica Watches Says:
    November 7th, 2009 at 2:14 am
  11. 11.   sport shoes Says:
    November 7th, 2009 at 3:57 pm

    You made some good points there. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with

  12. 12.   nike shoes Says:
    November 8th, 2009 at 6:40 am

    You made some good points there. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with

  13. 13.   do you agree Says:
    November 8th, 2009 at 6:57 pm

    Hello Guru, what entice you to post an article. This article was extremely interesting, especially since I was searching for thoughts on this subject last Thursday.

  14. 14.   y3 shoes Says:
    November 10th, 2009 at 6:52 am

    You made some good points there. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with

  15. 15.   replica tiffany jewelry Says:
    November 10th, 2009 at 11:37 pm

    Disorder that literally, maintain the steady?Quiet space You, your concerns and.The things mentioned, attractive option for.After all youre replica tiffany jewelry, the Great Wall ways First If.Offers card holders, and internet auction.,

  16. 16.   shoes Says:
    November 11th, 2009 at 5:04 am

    You made some good points there. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with

  17. 17.   cabal online alz Says:
    November 11th, 2009 at 5:05 am

    In the game cabal online alz is very important, if you in the game had the enough cabal alz, you will had a tall level in the game, so you need spend some money to buy the cabal gold.When you learn the skills and buy the excellent equipment, you will find the cabal money is very useful.buy cabal alz can help you in the game.

  18. 18.   tiffany watches Says:
    November 13th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
  19. 19.   ronnellgri Says:
    November 14th, 2009 at 3:10 am

    1998 forward upper positive possible [url=http://wc.wustl.edu]trends report[/url] http://www.guardian.co.uk

  20. 20.   gfg Says:
    November 16th, 2009 at 9:52 pm

    louis vuitton

    [url=http://www.flashreplica.com]louis vuitton[/url]

  21. 21.   dfteg Says:
    November 17th, 2009 at 12:34 am
  22. 22.   footwear Says:
    November 17th, 2009 at 11:42 am
  23. 23.   ly Says:
    November 19th, 2009 at 12:53 am

    Have you heared about a game which you need use requiem gold to play, and you can also borrow requiem lant from other players

  24. 24.   Runes of Magic money Says:
    November 19th, 2009 at 1:07 am

    If you are really a game player, you must know Rom Gold, or Runes of Magic Gold, they are equally valued in this game, more you own them, more items you can buy. Sometimes it is also called Runes of Magic money, of course you can buy Rom Gold at many websites, but what I want to say is that you can get cheap Runes of Magic Gold more easily.

  25. 25.   buy Megaten Gold Says:
    November 19th, 2009 at 3:33 am

    Megaten Gold is one of important items when you would like to play the game. There are many Megaten online Gold online stores where you can buy Megaten Gold. If you choose a reputable online retailer, you can get cheap Megaten Gold. In our online store, we will offer you the cheapest Megaten money and the best service.

  26. 26.   dsg Says:
    November 19th, 2009 at 5:10 am

    In the game the LOTROGold is very important, if you had enough
    LordOfTheRingsGold in the game, i think you will had a tall level, but if you do not had enough
    buyLOTROGold, i think now you already worried about how to play the game. so if you need the cheapLordOfTheRingsGold, you can come here and that in here you can buy cheapest the
    cheapLordOfTheRingsGold in the market.

    In the game the
    Rom Gold is very important, if you had enough
    Runes of Magic Gold in the game, i think you will had a tall level, but if you do not had enough
    Runes of Magic money,i think now you already worried about how to play the game. so if you need the
    buy Rom Gold, you can come here and that in here you can buy cheapest the
    cheap Runes of Magic Gold in the market.

    In the game the
    flyffpenya is very important, if you had enough
    flyffmoney in the game, i think you will had a tall level, but if you do not had enough
    flyffgold, i think now you already worried about how to play the game. so if you need the
    buyflyffpenya, you can come here and that in here you can buy cheapest the
    cheappenya in the market.

  27. 27.   genital warts Says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 5:26 am

    [URL=http://popsportshoes.com]sport shoes[/URL]

  28. 28.   genital warts Says:
    November 20th, 2009 at 12:51 pm

    [URL=http://popsportshoes.com]ASICS Sneakers[/URL]

  29. 29.   cheap mabinogi Says:
    November 21st, 2009 at 3:10 am

    not too bad

  30. 30.   genital warts Says:
    November 21st, 2009 at 9:55 am

Leave a Reply