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• Article | Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience | April 2013

  An fMRI Investigation of Racial Paralysis

  Michael I. Norton, Malia F. Mason, Joseph A. Vandello, Andrew Biga and Rebecca Dyer

  We explore the existence and underlying neural mechanism of a new norm endorsed by both black and white Americans for managing interracial interactions: "racial paralysis," the tendency to opt out of decisions involving members of different races. We show that people are more willing to make choices—Who is more intelligent? Who is more polite?—between two white individuals (same-race decisions) than between a white and a black individual (cross-race decisions), a tendency that was enhanced when judgments involved traits related to black stereotypes. We use fMRI to examine the mechanisms underlying racial paralysis, revealing greater recruitment of brain regions implicated in socially appropriate behavior (VMPFC), conflict detection (ACC), deliberative processing (DLPFC), and inhibition (VLPFC). We discuss the impact of racial paralysis on the quality of interracial relations.

  Keywords: Decision Choices and Conditions; Race Characteristics; Judgments; Personal Characteristics; Behavior; Conflict and Resolution; Recruitment; United States;

  Citation:

  Norton, Michael I., Malia F. Mason, Joseph A. Vandello, Andrew Biga, and Rebecca Dyer. "An fMRI Investigation of Racial Paralysis." Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience 8, no. 4 (April 2013): 387–393.

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• Case | HBS Case Collection | 2013 (Revised from original 2012 version)

  SMARTBITES (A)

  Michael Roberts, Jeronimo Silva and Amar Bhide

  The case describes a Turkish brother-sister team who are evaluating the option of acquiring and operating a franchise of a US bakery/cafe in Turkey. They are comparing this option to that of simply starting a similar business.

  Keywords: Franchising; start-up; Franchise Ownership; Family Ownership; Cost vs Benefits; Multinational Firms and Management; Food and Beverage Industry; Retail Industry; Turkey; United States;

  Citation:

  Roberts, Michael, Jeronimo Silva, and Amar Bhide. "SMARTBITES (A)." Harvard Business School Case 813-074, January 2013. (Revised from original September 2012 version.)

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• Supplement | HBS Case Collection | 2013

  SMARTBITES (B): May 2009

  Michael Roberts and Amar Bhide

  The case describes a Turkish brother and sister team who are evaluating the option of acquiring and operating a franchise of a large US bakery/cafe for Turkey. They are comparing this option to that of simply starting a similar business.

  Keywords: Franchising; start-up; Franchise Ownership; Business Startups; Food and Beverage Industry; Turkey;

  Citation:

  Roberts, Michael, and Amar Bhide. "SMARTBITES (B): May 2009." Harvard Business School Supplement 813-110, January 2013.

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