Study: turbans cause threat response
A Muslim style turban is seen as a threat by the average Australian, even to those who think they are free from racial prejudice, psychologists have found.
A study of university students playing a computerised shoot ‘em up game has revealed strong stereotyped bias against Muslim-looking people.
Innocent figures in the game were more likely to be shot at if they were wearing turbans or hijabs, the University of New South Wales researchers said.
Dubbed the “turban effect”, the trend was seen in both male and female shooters.
“People learn about negative stereotypes from their parents, their peers, their education and the media,” psychology researcher Dr Tom Denson said. (news)
