To Overcome Resistance to DEI, Understand What’s Driving It

by Eric Shuman, Eric Knowles and Amit Goldenberg

March 1, 2023

Mark Harris

Summary.

In recent years, we’ve seen tremendous growth in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Many people have eagerly embraced these efforts, but some have criticized and resisted them, including Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, who recently announced plans to block state colleges from having DEI programs at all.

Eric Shuman is a post-doctoral fellow at both New York University and Harvard Business School. He investigates the psychological roots of resistance to social change among members of historically advantaged groups, and how collective-action efforts can overcome that resistance. To learn more about his research, you can find him on Twitter at @EricMShuman.

Eric Knowles is an associate professor of psychology at New York University. He investigates the psychological roots of political attitudes, in particular how various group identities and the status associated with them can shape political beliefs and behaviors. To learn more about his research you can find him on Twitter at @eric_knowles or visit his website.

Amit Goldenberg is an assistant professor at Harvard Business School. His research focuses on what makes people emotional in social and group contexts, and how such emotions can be changed when they are unhelpful or undesired. To learn more about his research you can find him on Twitter at @Amit_Goldenb or visit his website.