Science
Scientists from Oxford University have discovered an unusual “side effect” in the drug propranolol, which is prescribed to people suffering from cardiovascular diseases, depression and increased anxiety. It turns out that this drug can reduce the level of racism in humans.
The researchers found that people who took propronolol had fewer racial prejudices and were better suited to people of other races than those who took a “pacifier” instead of heart medication.
To conduct the study, researchers brought together a group of 36 white men and women. Volunteers were divided into 2 groups of 18 people each. Each volunteer was asked to take a dose of propranolol, with one group being given real propranolol and the other a placebo. Two hours after taking the pill, volunteers took a special “racism test”. Participants in the experiment were shown photographs of people of different races and asked to relate these photos to different words for emotions, such as “joy”, “pain”, and “horror”. As a result, it turned out that people who took real propranolol showed less subconscious aggression towards people of a different race.
Researchers suggest that the unusual effect of propranolol is due to the pharmacological properties of the drug and the fact that the basis of racism is a sense of fear.
Propranolol is a beta blocker. This drug lowers the heart rate and thus helps fight high blood pressure, heart palpitations, heart pain, migraines, depression, fears and anxiety. There is an assumption that racism is a manifestation of a subconscious, uncontrollable fear of the unknown. Since propronalol reduces anxiety and fear, this drug, according to scientists, can also reduce manifestations of racism.