Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do (Issues of Our Time)

by Claude M. Steele

Before we discovered Carol’s idea of learning goals, we had some interesting failures. We had tried to find some instruction that would enable the participants expecting the challenging conversation to move their chairs closer. We tried first to assure them that they wouldn’t be judged by what they said in the conversation, that they should feel free to speak their minds without fear of recrimination. It didn’t work. Perhaps they didn’t believe us. Those who anticipated talking to black partners about racial profiling still sat farther away. Next, we assured them that differences in perspective were valued, that a range of perspectives was appreciated in these conversations. This didn’t work either. Chairs were still placed far apart, sometimes even farther apart than if we’d said nothing.