Microaggressions are subtle, everyday forms of racism that harm people of color and strain interracial relationships. Our research study recently accepted by the ABCT journal the Behavior Therapist is called "Racial Microaggressions and Cultural Intelligence." We examined at a national sample of 235 White adults and whether a lack of cultural awareness—measured through “cultural intelligence” (CQ) – predicts tendencies to commit anti-Black microaggressions. We found that certain dimensions of CQ, known as metacognitive and motivational CQ, were linked to committing fewer microaggressions. These reflect an openness to learning and a willingness to adapt one’s thinking to different cultural contexts. In contrast, “cognitive” CQ, or having confidence in one’s existing cultural knowledge, was associated with a higher likelihood of microaggressions. We concluded that feeling certain that you “know” another culture can create blind spots, making it easier to rely on stereotypes and assumptions without realizing it.

These results underscore that genuine understanding goes beyond simply having knowledge about other groups. Cultural humility – recognizing that there’s always more to learn – may be key to preventing these harmful interactions. Training programs and educational initiatives should emphasize not only factual cultural knowledge, but also encourage reflection, curiosity, and empathy. Ultimately, building meaningful cross-cultural understanding involves a continuous process of listening, learning, and evolving.

Learn more about microaggressions and how they can impact clinical care at our social media campaign called STOP Bad Therapy, raising awareness to address misinformation.

In 2017, notable psychology researcher Scott Lilienfeld advanced several influential theories about racial microaggressions that have caused harm to people of color. Here are a few of the most damaging of his incorrect notions.

• Microaggressions are not a valid scientific construct
• Experiencing microaggressions is not harmful
• Microaggressions are not aggressive
• Microaggressions are not an indication of prejudice
• People complain about microaggressions because they are neurotic
• Students shouldn't be taught about microaggressions

In a 2022, I co-authored Being an Anti-Racist Clinician, based on a keynote lecture I gave in Belfast. In the article, we made a list of prominent psychologists who advanced racism. Recently, 60 mostly White male scholars objected to Lilienfeld's appearance on this list, asserting that he "was most certainly not a racist." But it is important to understand that his theories were based on a cultural deficit-model, which means the researcher is looking for problems in people of color without considering alternative explanations. He also opposed anti-racism education based on his theories. As such, his ideas represented a racist research agenda. Please check out the list of signatories against our paper to see who is still supporting racism in the field. Some of the names might surprise you.

Though thoroughly debunked, this racist legacy still lingers in academia and the therapy room. As such, CMHD Lab is doing a social media campaign called STOP Bad Therapy to raise awareness and address misinformation.

Both "set" and "setting" significantly shape the nature and outcomes of psychedelic therapy sessions, which are in turn shaped by culture. With roots in diverse cultural practices, the importance of these factors is increasingly recognized in contemporary therapeutic contexts.

If we want to build a more equitable society, we need to cultivate the courage required for difficult conversations about race. Read this article published by the UC Berkley Greater Good Science Center, which studies the psychology, sociology, and neuroscience of well-being, and teaches skills that foster a thriving, resilient, and compassionate society.

What should therapists do when clients of color broaden their experiences of racism and generalize these into global conclusions about the world? Sometimes systemic racism looks like a cognitive distortion.

People of color deserve care that is of equal quality to the care White clients receive, and it is an ethical duty as mental health providers to uphold this standard and put it into practice. However, therapists often lack adequate foundational training in diversity issues.

We know that oppression and inequality can contribute to psychic distress at individual and collective levels and this is enhanced and compounded for people who exist at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities.