Communication Skills

Removing Prejudices: 7 Things You Need to Know

By cjliu | September 7, 2020

CJ Liu interviews Dr. Arthur P Ciarmamicoli about his newest book “The Triumph of Diversity.” Over the last 30 years, Dr. Ciarmamicoli has facilitated a leadership and communication group. Often these groups are very diverse. Recently, the advent of sadistic toxic leaders has pervaded our highest levels on a global scale.

Dr. Ciarmamicoli became alarmed at the increase of prejudice, and hate crimes. As evidence, he points to the rise in anti-semitism, Islamophobia, and anti-LBGTQ.

7 Things to Know About Removing Prejudices

1) We all grow up with prejudice either against either ourselves of others.

2) Good people can learn to be prejudice at a very early age. As young children, we take on beliefs from our parents without questioning them, which is referred to in psychological terms as parental conditioning. For example, a 56 year old educated CEO stated his prejudice statement “dogs don’t like black people.” This prejudice was never questioned by him or by others.

3) Even as adults, it’s not our parents, but toxic leadership, that create prejudices. Toxic leaders are those who act in sadistic ways and who talk in hurtful terms. As a result, if not questioned or addressed, these harmful beliefs are condoned by society. Worse, they give permission for others to voice and spread hatred and anger.

4) Over time, toxic leaders create a power vacuum. The abused minority groups who are being harmed are too afraid to speak up. This leads to silent bystanders, which give toxic leaders a free pass.

5) Even if we don’t believe ideas espoused by toxic leaders, it’s easy to unconsciously go into denial or get desensitized to the rhetoric.

6) It’s helpful to examine other times when power became unchecked. Mussolini, for example, capitalized by finding those that were depressed and vulnerable, and promising them things with no intention of delivering. He targeted a common enemy and created lies and put blame on those vulnerable groups. Finally, he repeated the lies over and over again until it became like a marketing jingle.

7) Empathy is the key to changing our prejudices. We start with change from inside out. Think about joining an empathy circle, where you can have civil discussions to gain empathy and find the truth about other people.

Example of Change

In closing, Dr. Ciarmamicoli shares the powerful story of Christian. He was a white supremacist, who initially had no experience with people of color or gay people. At an early age, Christian was told that these people were bad, and that they were going to take over and destroy white people. As an adult, he is now educating young people. Many young people who are seeking a family can become vulnerable to cult like groups.

Make sure to find out more about how empathy changed Christian’s life in the next segment. We can always seek the truth and the facts no matter what we’ve experienced.