How Wokeness and Social Desirability Bias are Linked
In recent years, the term "wokeness" has become a cultural mainstay, symbolizing awareness and activism for social justice issues. However, wokeness is not just about supporting causes; it also involves a complex layer of social behavior where people strive to be seen as supporting causes. This subtle difference speaks to the concept of social desirability bias, where individuals adjust their explicit attitudes and behaviors to align with what they perceive as socially acceptable or favorable, often in a bid for validation and approval. Understanding how these concepts intersect can reveal much about motivations, perceptions, and the authenticity of one’s advocacy.
What is Social Desirability Bias?
Social desirability bias is a psychological phenomenon that affects how we present our views and actions, often leading to an inclination to portray ourselves in a positive light. According to the Openmind framework, individuals hold both explicit and implicit attitudes. Explicit attitudes are conscious, well-formed opinions that people are aware of and can control. Implicit attitudes, on the other hand, exist below the conscious level, shaped by years of experience and subtle social cues. Social desirability bias typically affects explicit attitudes, nudging people to alter their outward views to match prevailing societal norms.
For instance, while a person might implicitly feel neutral about certain issues, they may explicitly express stronger support if they perceive it as socially expected. This gap can be particularly pronounced in matters related to wokeness, where societal pressure to appear supportive of progressive causes might override personal inclinations.
The Social Expectation of Wokeness
Wokeness encompasses issues such as racial justice, gender equality, and environmentalism. These are inherently significant and complex, yet public discourse sometimes reduces them to simple slogans or gestures. The pressure to adopt "woke" stances can lead to a scenario where individuals publicly align themselves with causes, not necessarily out of genuine belief, but from a need to be seen as morally upright or socially conscious.
When individuals feel compelled to engage in activism or social issues purely out of obligation, the distinction between true advocacy and performative activism becomes blurred. For example, people might adopt woke language or symbols (like posting hashtags or wearing pins) more for the social approval these acts bring rather than for genuine commitment to the cause.
Implicit vs. Explicit Attitudes: The Openmind Perspective
The Openmind psychometric assessment highlights a discrepancy between implicit and explicit attitudes that can be revealing in the context of wokeness. For many, there exists an unacknowledged difference between how they consciously want to be perceived and their automatic, non-conscious attitudes. This gap reflects the social desirability bias, where explicit responses are consciously modified to align with what individuals perceive as the "right" answer.
In terms of wokeness, people may explicitly endorse certain causes—believing it to be socially favorable—even if they have little implicit inclination toward them. For example, a person might publicly advocate for climate action yet feel apathetic about the topic in private moments. This inconsistency doesn't necessarily indicate deceit; rather, it illustrates how social desirability bias can influence behavior, leading people to display heightened enthusiasm for causes they feel are mandatory for acceptance in their social circles.
Performative Activism: The Role of External Validation
One notable form of social desirability bias in the realm of wokeness is performative activism. Here, actions are taken more for appearance than for actual impact. These displays might include sharing posts on social media or attending protests without a clear, internalized belief in the cause. In the Openmind framework, such performative acts may score high in explicit attitudes but not in implicit ones.
Performative activism is often fueled by the desire for social validation. People want to be seen as being "on the right side" of a cause, even if their actions do not significantly contribute to change. This need to appear virtuous can overshadow genuine concern, and social media amplifies this effect. Platforms encourage public visibility, leading people to prioritize visible, attention-grabbing acts over more private, impactful ones.
How Social Desirability Bias Complicates Real Activism
While wokeness as a concept has good intentions, social desirability bias can sometimes dilute its effectiveness. People may feel pressured to adopt socially favored stances, even when they lack a real commitment to those issues. This phenomenon can lead to a culture where superficial support is common, but deep understanding and actionable steps are lacking.
When individuals advocate for causes merely because it’s the socially desirable thing to do, the result can be a weakened movement. Actions taken from social pressure rather than conviction are often shallow, and the performative nature of these acts can undermine trust. People within a movement may start questioning each other’s authenticity, which can erode the solidarity necessary for meaningful progress.
Authenticity and Wokeness: Closing the Implicit-Explicit Gap
Closing the gap between implicit and explicit attitudes involves fostering self-awareness and reflection, which the Openmind framework suggests as an effective route. It’s about recognizing personal values and motivations beyond the external validation of social approval. Authentic wokeness is based on a conscious alignment between one’s true beliefs and outward actions, rather than on a reaction to societal expectations.
People genuinely engaged with a cause often have implicit attitudes that align closely with their explicit statements. They participate not because they feel they must, but because they feel compelled by a personal connection to the issue. In contrast, when there’s a large disparity between implicit and explicit attitudes, it can signify that social desirability bias is at play, with individuals adjusting their external behavior to fit in rather than act from genuine belief.
The Social Cost of Social Desirability Bias in Wokeness
Social desirability bias also leads to an unrealistic expectation of wokeness. People may feel pressure to keep up with every social cause, appearing informed and active on multiple fronts. However, this expectation is often unsustainable, resulting in burnout, resentment, and disengagement. In a social environment where everyone feels compelled to advocate, people may be less likely to engage in meaningful dialogue or education on topics they care about, instead prioritizing rapid, visible support for the cause of the day.
Additionally, the social cost of performative wokeness can extend to skepticism and mistrust. When activists are perceived as insincere or self-serving, it may disillusion those who are genuinely committed to the cause, diluting the efforts of well-intentioned individuals. This erosion of trust undermines the potential for collective action and reduces the effectiveness of activism, making it essential to cultivate a culture that values depth and authenticity over shallow displays of virtue.
Toward a Culture of Authentic Advocacy
To combat the impact of social desirability bias on wokeness, society can encourage a more authentic form of advocacy. This approach starts with self-awareness, helping individuals identify the causes that genuinely resonate with them. The Openmind framework suggests that self-reflection can aid in aligning implicit and explicit attitudes, fostering a sense of authenticity that is essential for sustainable activism.
Rather than advocating for every trending cause, individuals should feel empowered to prioritize the issues that align with their values. By narrowing their focus, people can engage in activism that feels personally meaningful, diminishing the need for performative actions that are driven by social desirability bias. In doing so, they contribute to a culture where support is based on genuine concern, not on the pressure to appear "woke."
Final Thoughts
Wokeness and social desirability bias are intricately linked, reflecting the social pressures that influence our behavior. While wokeness aims to address critical societal issues, social desirability bias can drive people to outwardly align with causes for validation rather than commitment. The result is a culture where activism can sometimes appear performative rather than impactful.
By understanding and addressing social desirability bias, individuals can move toward a more authentic and sustainable form of advocacy. The goal is not to eliminate social pressure altogether—awareness of others' expectations can have positive effects—but to foster a balance where people act from conviction rather than compulsion. In doing so, society can cultivate a culture of advocacy that is sincere, impactful, and rooted in genuine belief, making room for real, lasting change.