Social psychology is a branch of psychology that studies the effect of society on our thoughts and actions. In general, social psychologists believe that culture shapes our behavior as well as how we see ourselves and others. The shaping can be seen in many aspects of life, including education, where students with lower socioeconomic status are more likely to drop out than their higher socioeconomic peers. The educational disparity also leads to unequal opportunities for employment and success later in life, which has large-scale effects on the economy and society at large. Social psychologists have embraced the above principle and developed various interventions in dealing with educational disparities. Embracing role models in school and emotional reappraisal are some of the interventions that will reduce educational disparity.
It is no secret that many students in the United States are not receiving an equal education. The report of the National Education Association (NEA) stated there was an increase in the gap between low-and-high income graduating college children (Flores & García, 2017). Something needs to be done about this problem as a way of enhancing a sustainable society. The gaps can be attributed to many different factors, but one that is often overlooked is the lack of role models for students who are trying to achieve educational success.
Role models are effective in reducing educational disparities. For example, one study found that African American girls with strong role models were more than twice as likely to graduate from college than those with weak or absent ones. Role models provide a positive example for students to follow. The example displayed by the role models, in some instances, motivates and encourages students who are struggling. Some of the struggles by the students are beyond their abilities. As a result, an external solution is always viable for smooth progress. In such circumstances, the role models can help provide support and advice when needed. Through the continued provision of help, the role models serve as a bridge between school and home, providing continuity for the student.
The role models come in many different forms, such as teachers, parents, older siblings, or other adults in the community. It is important to find role models that resonate with the student, so they will be more likely to emulate their behavior. The best way to find role models is by asking the students themselves. There are many ways schools can use role models to reduce educational disparities. One of the ways of ensuring the reduction is by inviting successful alumni back to speak at the school. As the alumni engage in conversation with the students, the school can also encourage parents to get involved in their child’s education. The parents can also link the school to community organizations, which provide mentors or afterschool programs. As schools benefit from the role models, the management should also ensure to promote role models in the media and other forms of popular culture.
Research has also shown that educational disparities can be reduced when teachers teach to the emotional intelligence of their students by engaging them in emotional reappraisals (Spitzer & Aronson, 2015). When students are not allowed to learn how to regulate their emotions appropriately, they are less likely to succeed academically. This means that if children to be able to succeed in school, then it behooves their parents and educators alike to teach them how they can use techniques like emotional reappraisal so that they can overcome these challenges.
Emotional reappraisal serves as an intervention for reducing educational disparities in various ways. First, it can help to improve attention and focus in the classroom. When students are emotionally dysregulated, it is difficult for them to pay attention and learn. By teaching them how to use emotional reappraisal techniques, they will be able to better regulate their emotions and stay focused on the task at hand. Second, emotional reappraisal helps to build resilience in students. Stability is key for success in life, especially when things get tough. If students have learned how to deal with their emotions using emotional reappraisal tools, then they will be more likely to overcome challenges and setbacks later on in life.
Lastly, emotional reappraisal has been shown to boost academic achievement. In one study, researchers used fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) to determine how students would respond when they were given an academic task after practicing emotional reappraisal (Paret et al., 2019). The results of the study showed that not only did these students feel better emotionally and socially about themselves, but their brain activity also changed in a way that helped them perform better on challenging academic tasks.
Educational disparities can be significantly reduced by developing effective interventions from social psychology. There has been a major gap among many students in the United States, citing a lack of proper interventions. Embracing the use of role models is one intervention that will significantly cut down on the gap, but many have often overlooked the same. The role models come in different forms, including teachers, alumni students, and the community, and they can help reduce the gap. Apart from the use of role models, emotional reappraisal is vital in reducing the educational disparity. Emotional reappraisal enhances the ability of students to regulate emotions hence, perform excellently. Properly implementing the interventions in schools will be key in reducing the educational gaps.
References
Flores, N., & García, O. (2017). A Critical Review of Bilingual Education in the United States: From basements and pride to boutiques and profit. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 37(2), 14-29. Web.
Paret, C., Goldway, N., Zich, C., Keynan, J., Hendler, T., Linden, D., & Cohen Kadosh, K. (2019). Current progress in real-time functional magnetic resonance-based neurofeedback: Methodological challenges and achievements. Neuroimage, 202(3), 116107. Web.
Spitzer, B., & Aronson, J. (2015). Minding and mending the gap: Social psychological interventions to reduce educational disparities. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 85(1), 1-18. Web.