Acute Implicit Bias and Emotion Grafting: The Black Lives Matter Movement and the Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood, 2015 Conference, Miami, Florida

Abstract

In this essay, I reflect on my experience at the 2015 Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood (SSEA) Conference to highlight how communication at academic conferences may negatively influence (emotion graft) out–group or minority participants. In this paper, I will discuss the following topics: (a) the acute implicit bias made explicit in Dr. Manago's response to my mention of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement while chairing a session at the 2015 SSEA Conference, (b) the emotion–grafting effect her response had on me and potentially other minority scholars, (c) how her biased response led to missed opportunities for SSEA to be inclusive and innovative while increasing membership and revenue, and (d) the current state of the global response to the BLM movement.