Experiment places white people in virtual black bodies

A new study on racial biases used virtual reality technology to place white subjects in black bodies. The experiment, detailed in the journal “Trends in Cognitive Sciences”, used sensory cues to create the illusion that participants had bodies with darker skin.

According to the researchers, the experience led to a reduction in implicit biases, meaning it is possible for people to change their attitudes towards other groups through virtual simulations.

“Once you change people’s representations of what their bodies are like, then you can change their social cognition, which is the way in which we relate to others,” author Manos Tsakris told Live Science.

What do you think? Can projects like these help to combat racism?