Birds of a feather flock together so the saying goes!

SOCIAL DISTANCE AND ITS ORIGINS

by

EMORY S. BOGARDUS

University of Southern California

http://spartan.ac.brocku.ca/~lward/Bogardus/Bogardus_1925b.html

Just came across this study by a group of ‘Two hundred and forty-eight persons, chiefly members of two graduate and upper division classes in social psychology’. Their task was to identify from a list of races presented to them, those they had an affinity towards, those they were neutral towards and those they just did not like! The outcome as you will see could be interpreted as loaded to reach the conclusion it did, simply because of the weight of like races that took part, were heavy in the favour of western nationals. However, from such a simple exercise we can see that there is a very common aversion to mix with those who are different from us!

The few examples for the reasons given of personal preferences in choice, are weighted in favour of western races, if only because the majority of precipitants were from western races too. Never the less an interesting read and conclusion, but don’t know whether it proves anything apart from most human beings like to stay in close proximity with their own races, except for the Libbies who would like us all to mix while they watch the experiment from a safe distance!!!