Department Statements

Psychology Department Statement of Solidarity with AAPI Students, Staff, Faculty, and Communities

The faculty of the Psychology Department is incensed by the explosion of violence targeting Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.  On March 18, 2021, the Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA) submitted written testimony to the House of Representatives for the Hearing on Discrimination and Violence Against Asian Americans.  The AAPA stated that Anti-Asian hate crimes increased 149% in 16 US cities in 2020.  Additionally, research has begun to show that the uptick in these crimes correlates with the Anti-Asian rhetoric used by some politicians when referring to COVID-19. 

The faculty of the Psychology Department stands in solidarity with AAPI communities and unequivocally condemns this racism and hatred. We recognize the emotional toll that these hate crimes have exacted on AAPI communities, as so many have reported living in fear.  We are saddened and angered by this fact.  We are here to support you.  We want you to feel safe in your department, the university, and your community.  When you hurt, we hurt.  Even if you are quiet, we know that does not mean you are not suffering.  We recognize that some of you may be reluctant to speak out. 

We are certain that diversity is a strength, not a cause for division.  Additionally, we also know that words must translate into action, and we must strive to uphold our steadfast commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.  As psychologists, we understand that action first requires a willingness to listen, learn from history, and analyze the lived experiences among diverse groups of people.  We must recognize the disparities that have resulted due to a long history of systemic racism and other intersecting oppressions, and then work tirelessly to eliminate them.  

Therefore, as a department, we recommit ourselves to working to condemn white supremacy, racism, and violence in the following ways:

  • Working across departments to dismantle racism and white supremacy within our institution and communities. This includes acknowledging the role psychology has played in the construction of racist systems, wittingly and unwittingly.
  • Integrating course material that centers the experiences and perspectives of those most impacted by systemic oppressions.
  • We will continue our efforts to reduce inequality and equity gaps across our courses.
  • We will advance and support diversity in our leadership at the department level, in the College of Liberal Arts, and at the University.
  • We will disseminate resources and continue to support the emotional lives of our students, acknowledging the unique needs of our students of color.
  • We will amplify and support the efforts of AAPI communities engaged in efforts to enact change at the institutional, community, and structural levels of our society.

Learn more about the issues and how to take action:

In addition, we recognize that we cannot speak to the lived experience of all our students, faculty and staff. Thus, we encourage dialogue and are open to suggestions about specific resources you may need and will do whatever we can to address them.

In Solidarity,

The Faculty of the Psychology Department
March 24, 2021

 

Psychology Department Statement of Solidarity with Black Students, Staff, Faculty, and Communities

While the Psychology Department is proud to offer this statement of solidarity, we do so with the underlying knowledge and humility that it is imperfect because words can only approximate what is in our hearts.

“When we revolt it’s not for a particular culture. We revolt simply because, for many reasons, we can no longer breathe.”

― Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth, 1961

We are outraged by the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless deaths that have occurred because of systemic racism throughout the United States and globally. What’s more, if charges are brought against the perpetrators, it is often only after video footage of the murder is widely circulated. Yet, we know from America’s history that these incidents are not isolated or new—they are consistent with an old, deeply embedded pattern of systemic racism and police violence in this country that is directed at members of Black communities and other communities of color. All too often the pain brought about by this systemic anti-Black racism and police violence is compounded when the perpetrators are not held accountable for their actions—when there is no justice.

As articulated by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, responding to incidents of systemic racism and police violence with silence and inaction is racist. Silence and inaction allow systemic racism and police violence to continue. In other words, one is either actively engaging in anti-racist actions and pursuing anti-racist policies, or one is, at best, complicit in the maintenance of racist policies and actions. There is either racist or anti-racist, “there is no in-between safe space of not racist.” This is not only true of individuals, but also institutions.

Therefore, the Department of Psychology at CSULB writes to express solidarity with our Black and other students, staff, and faculty of color. Many of us also identify as members of racialized communities who have suffered the devastation of systems that devalue our humanity, and join you in stating, unequivocally, Black lives matter. We will work to condemn white supremacy, racism, and police violence. We want you to know that we stand with you. We grieve with you. We want you to feel safe in your department, your campus, and your communities. We are angry. This country is not the way we want it to be. We are here to support you. Most importantly, we are here to listen and learn from you.

To be clear, the Department of Psychology at CSULB denounces all forms of oppression. Racial injustice is an intersectional issue. Therefore, meaningful change requires acknowledging and addressing interlocking forms of oppression, including, but not limited to, sexism, classism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of religious bigotry.

We recognize the act of showing solidarity necessarily extends beyond words to include concrete actions. We also recognize that systemic racism extends beyond disparities in police brutality–it is also ingrained in many other institutions, including higher education. Thus, we as a Department are taking the following steps to address systemic racism and inequity.

  1. We commit to working across departments to dismantle racism and white supremacy within our institution and communities. This includes acknowledging the role psychology has played in the construction of racist systems, wittingly and unwittingly.
  2. We support a mandatory ethnic studies course at CSULB.
  3. We recommit to integrating course material that centers the experiences and perspectives of those most impacted by systemic oppressions.
  4. We resolve to determine if there are equity gaps in our courses. If so, we will take concrete steps to address them.
  5. We will advance and support diversity in our leadership at the department level, in the College of Liberal Arts, and at the University.
  6. We will disseminate resources and continue to support the emotional lives of our students, particularly our students of color.
  7. We recommit to seeking out diverse perspectives when hiring new faculty for our department.In addition, we recognize that we cannot speak to the lived experience of all our students, staff, and faculty. Thus, we encourage dialogue and are open to suggestions about specific resources you may need and will do whatever we can to address them.

In Solidarity,

Psychology Department Faculty
June 5, 2020

 

Statement on Diversity

The Department of Psychology strongly values diversity in our workplace and in the areas of teaching, research, and service, including community work. We define diversity broadly, including, but not limited to matters of: age, gender/ gender identity, socioeconomic status, employment status, physical and mental disability, race, ethnicity, nationality, skin color, primary language, sexual orientation, religion, and spirituality. This commitment to diversity is consistent with the mission of CSULB which emphasizes preparing students to function effectively in a culturally diverse society. This commitment to diversity also reflects our appreciation of and respect for our students who comprise one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation, particularly with regard to gender and race/ethnicity. Our commitment to diversity is also consistent with the values promoted by our professional organizations (e.g., the American Psychological Association, Asian American Psychological Association, Association of Black Psychologists, Association for Women in Psychology, National Latina/o Psychological Association), and reflects the growing importance of diversity in all disciplines of psychology. Building on CSULB’s commitment to equity in educational access, we possess a vision for social justice; that is, a society in which the human rights of all members are recognized and equal access is provided to all public resources. This vision for compassion, justice, and equity is important in our workplace environment and is exemplified in our teaching, research, and service. Specifically, courses such as Asian American Personality and Mental Health, Community Psychology, Health Psychology, Multicultural Psychology, Psychology of Sexuality, Psychology of Women, and Workplace Diversity examine current inequities and propose strategies for creating a more just and equitable society. Recent faculty research projects also focus on social justice. Faculty conduct research with a wide range of populations with the aim of reducing inequity and promoting health. Such projects include research on racism and stereotyping, as well as barriers to help-seeking and health disparities in local underserved communities. Much of this research is supported by federally funded grants (e.g., the NIMH Minority Research Infrastructure Support Program [MRISP]), reflecting the commitment of the department, university, and federal government to reducing inequities in health. Our commitment to social justice is also reflected in recent faculty activities in the community, including consultation with the World Bank to improve the educational outcomes of children in developing countries, HIV and STD prevention and intervention services for gay men, and health screening and promotion for medically underserved communities. We also reject prejudice, discrimination, and oppression in all their forms. These themes are addressed directly in many of the courses offered through the department, including all of the courses listed above. The department also strives to support students from diverse backgrounds through student groups (e.g., Black Psychology Student Association), mentoring programs for under-represented students (e.g., Career Opportunities in Research Program), and individual faculty-student mentoring relationships. In all of these efforts, we strive for movement from simple tolerance of individual differences to a genuine respect and appreciation for these differences. We understand that commitment to diversity is an ongoing process, so faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to examine their own beliefs and biases. Recent efforts to stimulate this process include a colloquium series focused on culture and health, as well as a workshop on diversity conducted by the director of the multicultural center at a department retreat. Through a combination of ongoing department activities and honest personal self-reflection, we hope that all members of the department will come to value human differences.

Statement on Misuse of Psychologists’ Work

The Department of Psychology regards it as deeply unethical that any faculty member knowingly allow his/her work to be used to support groups that disseminate views of racial/ethnic superiority and/or racial/ethnic hatred. Moreover, in accordance with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, we expect faculty to take all reasonable steps to prevent the misuse or misrepresentation of their work. We are concerned that psychological research has been used in the past in intellectually unjustifiable and socially harmful ways, such as limiting immigration of certain groups or justifying unequal opportunities in education and employment. We wish to make it clear that these uses are distortions of scholarship in the field.

Statement on Academic Freedom and Responsibility in Research

The Department of Psychology supports the right of its faculty to conduct and present scientific research on topics of their choosing. The ability to engage in scholarly pursuits which may or may not be in line with current thinking is a cornerstone of academic progress. It is through active dialogue and debate, not the stifling of thought, that knowledge progresses. Whether the research is ultimately rejected by the scientific community or becomes the basis for a new direction in the field will depend on the quality of the research and the ability of the faculty member to defend his or her views. It will also depend on the extent to which the faculty member has taken precautions to defend against biases, to conduct his or her research in an ethically responsible manner, to consider alternate explanations, and to be concerned about the implications of his or her work. It is these types of considerations that will be used by the larger scientific community to evaluate and ultimately accept or reject controversial research. And it is this process of peer review that will ultimately weed out biased and unsound research, not a priori assumptions about which lines of research should be allowed to be conducted in the first place. In this spirit the Department of Psychology recognizes that its faculty members constitute a community of scholars with diverse interests and points of view. The views of individual faculty may not represent the views of the Department as a whole. In accordance with the principles of academic freedom outlined by the American Association of University Professors, we support the right of our faculty to engage in scholarship of their choosing; however, we expect faculty whose views are controversial to state that their views may not represent those of the Department.

Statement on the Controversial Writings of Dr. Kevin MacDonald

A majority of Psychology Department faculty members approved the following statement. While the Department of Psychology highly values academic freedom, many faculty members are concerned that our Department and University are being seen as supporting the work of our colleague, Dr. Kevin McDonald.  This work on ethnic/racial differences, more specifically the conclusions he has drawn on Jewish culture, has been embraced by certain extremist groups, and used by some as a rationale for their ideology. Concerns about how Dr. MacDonald’s research is being used by extremist groups led to a forum in December 2007 during which Dr. MacDonald was invited to present his work.   During this forum and subsequent on-line discussions, faculty raised a number of concerns.  Faculty were particularly concerned that Dr. MacDonald’s research on Jewish culture does not adhere to the Department’s explicitly stated values on academic freedom, responsibility in research, and human diversity.   Faculty also raised concerns about potential violations of the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct (http://www.apa.org/ethics/code2002.html) and a variety of conceptual and methodological issues.  It was also noted that many of these writings have appeared in other media rather than in psychological journals that require peer review and rigorous scientific and psychological methodology. As a result of these concerns, the department wishes to dissociate itself from the controversial writings of Dr. Kevin MacDonald.  We respect and defend his right to express his views, but we affirm that they are his alone and are in no way endorsed by the Department of Psychology at California State University, Long Beach. Statement approved by ballot 23 April 2008.