On the Social Psychology of Confederate Monuments

While many Americans see the Confederate flag as a symbol of racism, many others insist that it is a symbol of “heritage, not hate.” This debate has spurred protests, counter-protests, arrests, and legal disputes. Here, we examine (i) the historical and psychological meaning of Confederate symbols, (ii) consequences of displaying Confederate symbols in public spaces, and (iii) downstream consequences of removing them from public spaces. More generally, this talk will be an invitation to discuss whether and, if so, how social scientists can contribute to socially, culturally, politically fraught issues. 

 

Sophie Trawalter is the Batten Family Bicentennial Teacher-Scholar Leadership Professor of Public Policy at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia. She studies psychological processes that contribute to social disparities.