Beliefs about groups’ differences leads to support for initiatives that keep those groups isolated, Stanford scholar finds

At a time when state and federal governments are debating initiatives that would keep some social groups isolated – such as transgender individuals and immigrants – a Stanford psychologist finds that people who believe those groups have “essences” are more likely to support isolationist programs.

The study’s findings, which appear Aug. 14 in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin,suggest that psychological essentialism – the belief that members of certain social groups share an inborn, fundamental and unchangeable essence – is positively associated with support for social issues, such as the North Carolina bathroom bill and President Trump’s proposed border wall.

“We’re showing that not only does essentialism predict how we perceive social groups, but it also draws people toward policies and initiatives that keep those groups distinct,” said Steven Roberts, an assistant professor of psychology at Stanford. “So, if I’m high in essentialism, not only will I believe that men are essentially distinct from women, or that immigrants are essentially distinct from natives, but I’ll also support legislation that enforces gender segregation in public bathrooms, or a presidential candidate who promises to build a wall along the Mexico-U.S. border.”