Reducing racial ingroup biases in empathy and altruistic decision-making by shifting racial identification

Findings of racial ingroup biases in empathy and social behaviors require
understanding of relevant psychological and brain mechanisms. Using
self-report, behavioral, EEG, and fMRI measures, we tested the hypothesis
that racial identification provides a cognitive basis for racial ingroup
biases in empathy and altruistic decision-making. We showed that a mask
training procedure using other-race facial disguises altered self-face
perception and promoted identification with the other race. Shift in
racial identification modulated the medial prefrontal activity, increased
electrophysiological responses to pain expressions of other-race faces,
enhanced the right premotor/frontal/insular activities in response to
perceived painful stimulation to other-race individuals, and decreased
own-race favoritism in altruistic decision-making. Furthermore, the medial
prefrontal activity related to the shift in racial identification
predicted greater neural responses to other-race pain after the training
procedure. Our findings highlight the shift of racial identification as a
psychological basis for reducing racial ingroup biases in social emotions
and behaviors.