R&D PROJECTS

Project Overview

Minorities are more susceptible to unconscious discrimination (microaggressions) from the majority group and tend to become isolated and lonely

People in the minority try to become familiar with the majority in society to avoid isolation within the majority. However, such efforts put various mental burdens on them. One of the factors behind this situation is that social conventions and common sense are based on the values of the majority. For example, people with developmental disabilities, a type of minority group, often have the trait of “persisting to one thing.” However, the majority's common sense sees such character as being more “stubborn” and “inattentive” than “normal.” As a result, they are not accepted as ordinary people and are often relegated to the lower levels of society. One can argue that this situation is a “microaggression,” a social prejudice or discrimination that minorities tend to experience routinely.

Protect minorities from microaggressions and achieve a fair society where minorities do not suffer from social isolation and loneliness

The All-Minorities Project will focus first on developmental disabilities among minorities and instill the values of people with developmental disabilities into a majority-centered society. Specifically, we will survey how microaggressions against developmental disabilities cause social isolation and loneliness among people with developmental disabilities to reveal the mechanism. Then, we will develop an “all-minorities apps” using cognitive behavioral therapy to eliminate microaggressions people with developmental disabilities are experiencing. These apps aim to visualize unconscious microaggressions by making them more noticeable. We will verify the effectiveness of these apps by getting it tested by those involved with people with developmental disabilities (supporters and parents). Furthermore, we will create short videos and cartoons about minorities in collaboration with artists, promoting awareness-raising activities through other apps and social networking services. As described above, starting with “developmental disabilities,” we aim to promote the understanding and acceptance of the values of minorities and reduce microaggressions, thereby leading to the realization of a fair society where the human rights of various minorities are respected and where minorities do not suffer from social isolation and loneliness.

Q&A

Please tell us more about the social vision this project aims to achieve for the primary prevention of social isolation and loneliness.

In order to promote the primary prevention of social isolation and loneliness, this project sets a major goal of achieving the coexistence between minorities and the majority in society by having the majority recognize the values and norms of minorities, which have been relegated to the corners of the world and regarded as “non-existent” through daily microaggressions against minorities. This approach will protect minorities from isolation and loneliness and enable them to participate in society, protected as minorities, thereby improving their mental health. We believe this is the most significant contribution this project could bring about.

What are the biggest challenges (bottlenecks) in achieving the social vision above?

The biggest challenge in realizing this project’s social vision is how to get the “all-minorities apps” voluntarily used beyond the psychological resistance that possibly tends to build up more on the side of throwing microaggressions (the privileged-class majority). It is difficult to realize that you are the one who discriminate or are prejudiced against others. It is also natural for people to feel psychological resistance when someone points out that you discriminate or are prejudiced against others. To get people to change their behavior beyond psychological resistance, we consider adding well-thought-out psychoeducational training tools to this project, including the association between minorities and microaggressions, the process of behavior changes, and future social benefits.

Participating/Cooperating Institutions

• Chiba University, Senshu University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Awarefy Inc., National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Shinshu University, Waseda University, Osaka University, Teikyo University, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba Developmental Disability Support Center, Sagami Women's University, LITALICO Inc., Mirai no Ibasho Research Institute, UNIVA Org., and others.

Report

• FY2022 Research and Development Report (Japanese) (PDF: 842KB)

Project Website and Others

• All Minorities Project
• Twitter

Related Links

• LITALICO Developmental Navi