The perception of adult Maltese citizens on racism

Abstract

Racism has received little attention from the cognitive standpoint, especially in the Maltese setting. Studying anti-racism in psychology involves a detailed examination of how the discipline produces opportunity in ways that keep White supremacy intact (Efua, 2021). However, psychology has made significant advances to better understand the complex dimensions of racism. Psychologists, as professionals in human behaviour, have long examined racism's devastation, with much of their findings contributing to constructive change (Efua, 2021). The aim of the study is to spread awareness of how racism impacts individuals psychologically and to further understand how Maltese citizens view racism as a concept. Semistructured interviews with eight individuals were conducted using a qualitative technique. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data, and five themes were retrieved. When the results were compared to the literature, it was determined that Maltese citizens are aware of racism in Malta, however, the older generation are not as aware as the younger generation and do not keep up with recent developments. Additionally, their expertise is not contingent on their educational background but based on their own research with regard to racism. The findings indicate that additional scientific study on how racism might be diminished and how it manifests itself cognitively is required. It is recommended that further research should be conducted with regard to the cognitive perspective.