Race Norming: The Dark History of Biased Testing
Race Norming in Personnel Selection The Core Definition and Mechanism Race norming is a historical and now illegal practice within the field of personnel selection, specifically concerning the interpretation of standardized employment test scores. At its simplest, it involves the assignment of a different cut-off score or the adjustment of an applicant’s score based specifically […]
Youth Commitment: Protecting Rights in Mental Health Care
Bartley v. Kremens (1981): Due Process and Minor Mental Health Commitment The Core Legal and Psychological Definition The case of Bartley v. Kremens, decided by the United States Supreme Court in 1981, centered on a critical challenge to the procedures utilized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the involuntary commitment of minors to mental health […]
Gender Equality: The Psychology of Fairness and Rights
Equal Rights Amendment (ERA): A Legal and Social History The Core Definition and Purpose The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution, designed to guarantee legal gender equality for all American citizens. The core text of the amendment is remarkably concise and powerful, stating plainly: “Equality of rights under […]
Social Segregation: The Hidden Cost of Human Division
Defining Segregation and Its Fundamental Dimensions The concept of segregation is fundamentally defined as the systemic practice of separating individuals or groups based on perceived differences, most notably those related to race, ethnicity, or sex (Rothman, 2018). This practice is not merely a physical distancing but a social and psychological boundary that reinforces hierarchies within […]
Same-Sex Union: The Psychology of Modern Commitment
Introduction to Same-Sex Marriage and Societal Context Same-sex marriage, defined as the union between two individuals of the same sex, represents one of the most profound and swiftly evolving areas of law and social policy in modern history. While marriage itself is an ancient institution, the legal and social recognition of unions outside of the […]