Are cops more trigger-happy when aiming guns at minorities? That’s the question sociologists and political scientists have studied since the 1970s, and the answer may lie in a video game.
According to social psychologists at the University of Colorado and CU Stereotyping and Prejudice (CUSP) lab, a simple computer game has allowed researchers to not only measure the influence that cultural bias has on police decisions, but also make some surprising discoveries regarding how the human mind forms and acts upon racial prejudice.
The shooting video game involves black and white targets holding either guns or harmless objects, such as cell phones or soda cans. Study participants are instructed to shoot at only the armed characters, forcing them to make split-second decisions.
New data has revealed that players were prone to shoot images of unarmed black men and were quicker to shoot at black men holding guns than white men who were armed.
The study also showed more biases on the civilian level. Research with police officers indicated that their training affected whether they chose to fire at a target and made them less likely to shoot on the basis of race.
While researchers are pleased with the findings of the study, it has generated its share of criticism.
“I don’t deal with video games when I’m out on the street. I’m dealing with real cops with attitudes,” African-American activist Shareef Aleem wrote in a report.
“If you’re black or Latino, the police are more aggressive towards you, insofar as shooting you or beating you down.”
