When you open a psychology textbook, whose names do you see? How well does psychology reflect the diversity of the world we live in?

Henrich et al (2010) showed that most participants in published studies come from WEIRD societies (Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich and Democratic), which make up only a small part of the world's population. If the people studied, and the people doing the studying, come from a narrow slice of humanity, our picture of human behaviour will be narrow too.

Black History Month celebrates Black psychologists whose contributions have shaped our understanding of intelligence, identity and social behaviour. It also shows that psychology sometimes produced the very ideas that they challenged, such as eugenics (the belief that humans could be ‘improved’ through selective breeding).

In this issue of Psychology in the News we will explore some of these psychologists and their contributions:

1. Dr Robert Williams: Challenging cultural bias

Williams helped found the National Association of Black Psychologists (1968) and created the deliberately provocative BITCH (Black Intelligence Test of Cultural Homogeneity) counter-test (1972) using African-American language and experience. He reported that Black participants outperformed white participants on it, suggesting intelligence tests are not culturally neutral.

2. Dr Herman George Canady: Questioning intelligence testing

In the 1930s, Canady investigated whether examiner race affected Black children's test scores, raising questions about reliability and validity.

3. Dr Mamie Phipps Clark and Dr Kenneth Clark: The effects of segregation

Mamie Phipps Clark originated the Doll Test, developed with Kenneth Clark. In 1947 many Black children preferred the white doll, which was interpreted as evidence that segregation damaged self-perception. It featured, alongside other evidence, in Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the case that ruled racial segregation in American public schools unconstitutional, though its method and interpretation were debated.

4. Professor Jennifer Eberhardt: Understanding racial bias today

Contemporary social psychologist Jennifer Eberhardt investigates how racial associations and stereotypes influence perception and decision-making, including in policing and sentencing. Her work demonstrates how psychological research can help us understand prejudice and challenge inequality.

Psychology is not separate from society. These contributions invite us to question assumptions and ask whose experiences are missing, all year, not only in October.

References:

https://guildservices.org/blog... (accessed 15.10.26)

https://www.ocr.org.uk/blog/re... (accessed 15.10.26)

Henrich, J., Heine, S. J. and Norenzayan, A. (2010). The weirdest people in the world? Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 33(2–3), 61–83.

Sieber, J. E. and Stanley, B. (1988). Ethical and professional dimensions of socially sensitive research. American Psychologist, 43(1), 49–55

Further reading:

https://www.bps.org.uk/blogs The BPS are currently highlighting the work of Black British Psychologists as part of their Black History Month celebration.

Now answer these questions:

1. What is meant by cultural bias?
2. Both reliability and validity are mentioned in this article. What is the difference between reliability and validity?
3. Why could an intelligence test be lacking in validity, if it is culturally biased? Refer to the work of Dr Robert Williams in your answer.
4. Why might research into racial prejudice be considered socially sensitive? Refer to the work of the Clarks in your answer.

CHALLENGE: This Black History Month, challenge yourself to learn more about the work of a Black British psychologist, use the BPS link in the references section to help you.