A groundbreaking report from the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) and Rutgers University suggests that certain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training methods may inadvertently escalate hostility, distrust, and punitive attitudes, potentially causing more harm than good.
According to Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) the study participants exposed to the Equality Labs narrative, were more likely to view all Hindus as racist, more likely to perceive bias without any evidence of bias and alarmingly, more willing to punish perceived ‘oppressors’.
Expressing their views on the report, a spokesperson for CoHNA told The Australia Today,
“The report shows that training to think about the Hindu and Indian community as ‘oppressive upper castes’ and ‘oppressed lower castes’ – as the Equality Labs rhetoric does – is to paint a target on the backs of the Hindu communities for increasing surveillance and purity testing -from mainstream Americans.”
The study, which focused on anti-oppressive frameworks in DEI materials, found these methods could foster authoritarian behaviours and psychological harm.“We examined popular DEI ideas to see their real-world psychological impact,” said Dr Joel Finkelstein, Chief Science Officer at NCRI told Fox.
“Our findings show that exposure to these materials often induces unwarranted hostility and perceptions of discrimination, even in neutral scenarios. Participants exposed to such teachings were significantly more likely to misattribute bias and support punitive measures without evidence.”
The study explored DEI content addressing race, caste, and religion, revealing concerning outcomes across all areas.
For instance, participants exposed to anti-casteism DEI content were 35% more likely to agree with altered quotes from Adolf Hitler, replacing “Jews” with “upper-caste members.” Similarly, anti-Islamophobia materials led participants to view a neutral legal trial as significantly unfair to Muslims. “These frameworks are unintentionally deepening divisions,” said Finkelstein.
“Instead of fostering inclusion, they amplify suspicion and distrust among groups.”
CasteFiles, a leading advocate for fair and balanced treatment of identity issues, expressed profound validation following the release of a groundbreaking study by the NCRI. Richa Gautam, founder of CasteFiles, said in a statement,
“We feel deeply gratified and validated by the findings of the NCRI study. It reinforces our mission to promote mature and nuanced discussions on identity, free from the divisive rhetoric and ‘Hostile Attribution Bias’ identified by NCRI in these trainings.”
The research also linked anti-oppressive teachings to “authoritarian intolerance,” characterised by coercive control, radical egalitarianism, and anti-hierarchical aggression. Participants exposed to such content were more likely to display punitive attitudes and endorse extreme measures against perceived oppressors.
According to the Hindu American Foundation (HAF), which has independently reviewed the study, DEI training offered by organisations like Equality Labs exacerbates intergroup tensions. “The evidence is clear,” HAF wrote on X.
“Caste DEI frameworks don’t reduce discrimination; they increase anti-Hindu bias and hostility.”
The study’s findings have sparked outrage over alleged media censorship. HAF claimed major outlets, including The New York Times and Bloomberg, allegedly pulled planned coverage of the study without explanation. “To refuse to cover this landmark research is to censor vital information with far-reaching consequences for the Hindu American community,” HAF stated.
With $8 billion spent annually on DEI programs in the U.S. alone, their effectiveness is under growing scrutiny. “We need scientific and credible evaluations of these interventions,” Finkelstein emphasised. “If these methods harm more than they heal, we must rethink how we approach inclusion.”
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