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modern racism

a contemporary form of prejudice against members of other racial groups that is expressed indirectly and covertly, typically by condemning the cultural values of the outgroup or by experiencing aversive emotions when interacting with its members but not acting on those negative emotions (see aversive racism). A modern racist, for example, expresses prejudice by condemning another group’s cultural values or by avoiding any contact with members of that group. Changed social attitudes have brought about a decline in the direct expression of racial discrimination and hostility toward minority groups (old-fashioned racism), with a corresponding increase in the less blatant modern racism.

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Psychology term of the day

February 23rd 2025

psychoneuromuscular theory

psychoneuromuscular theory

a theory postulating how the use of mental imagery of an activity can improve the subsequent motor performance of that activity. It states that, during the processing of imagery, the brain sends impulses to the muscles. These impulses are identical to those that cause muscle contraction with movement but are of lower intensity. The neural pathways are thereby strengthened, facilitating the learning and performance of motor skills. Also called ideomotor principle. See also mental practice. [originally proposed in 1874 by British physiologist William Benjamin Carpenter (1813–1885)]