A Psychological Perspective: Of "DEI Reform"

Daniel L. Hollar, Ph.D.

A Psychological Perspective: The Role of Cognitive Dissonance, Moral Disengagement, and White Supremacy in the Dismantling of Civil Rights Under the Pretense of "DEI Reform"

The rapid rollback of civil rights gains for African Americans, often cloaked under the guise of "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) reform," exposes deep psychological mechanisms at play in American society.

The illusion of normalcy that persists amid these regressions is not merely a product of ignorance or apathy—it is an outcome of cognitive dissonance, ideological conditioning, and the enduring framework of white supremacy. The dismantling of hard-fought rights is neither incidental nor a neutral political shift; it is an intentional effort to reassert racial hierarchies while maintaining the illusion of a fair and democratic society.

Cognitive Dissonance and the Illusion of Normalcy. Cognitive dissonance occurs when individuals experience psychological discomfort due to inconsistencies between their beliefs and their actions. Many Americans claim to uphold democracy, justice, and freedom while simultaneously supporting—or remaining complicit in—the erosion of policies designed to promote racial equity. Rather than confronting the contradiction, individuals resolve this dissonance by rationalizing regressive policies as “necessary corrections” to DEI initiatives that have been falsely framed as unfair advantages for marginalized groups.

This dissonance is further eased by the perception that democracy is intact because everyday life appears unchanged for the dominant group. The routine of work, entertainment, and daily activities continues uninterrupted for many white Americans, allowing them to deny the reality that civil rights are being eroded. This illusion of normalcy serves as a psychological buffer against the discomfort of acknowledging the reemergence of overt racial oppression.

White Supremacy and The Trump Administration’s Motivations. The systematic rollback of civil rights is deeply rooted in the ideology of white supremacy, which has always shaped American governance. The deliberate targeting of DEI programs under the pretense of “reform” is a strategic move to dismantle policies that sought to address centuries of racial injustice. This backlash is not merely about policy disagreements; it is an assertion of white dominance in the face of perceived racial progress.

Historically, every advancement for Black Americans—whether Reconstruction, Civil Rights, or affirmative action—has been met with aggressive pushback designed to restore racial hierarchies. The current wave of anti-DEI rhetoric mirrors previous moments in history where gains for Black people were methodically undone through legal and political maneuvering. The fact that these policies are framed as efforts to promote “meritocracy” and “equal treatment” reflects a classic psychological defense mechanism: projection. By accusing DEI programs of promoting racial discrimination, white supremacist forces obscure their own efforts to maintain systemic inequality.

Moral Disengagement and the Justification of Injustice. Psychologically, many Americans engage in moral disengagement—disconnecting from ethical considerations when confronted with the injustices committed in their name. This is facilitated by government rhetoric that frames DEI rollbacks as necessary to "restore balance" or "protect fairness." By sanitizing these actions with bureaucratic language and legal justifications, policymakers and their supporters absolve themselves of the moral implications of dismantling civil rights.

Additionally, the weaponization of colorblind ideology—claiming that race-conscious policies are inherently discriminatory—further enables moral disengagement. This rhetoric allows white Americans, in particular, to reject any responsibility for addressing systemic racism while simultaneously supporting policies that reinforce racial disparities.

Authoritarianism and the Suppression of Dissent. The slide toward authoritarianism is not accidental; it is an intentional response to the growing awareness and activism against racial injustice. The suppression of DEI initiatives serves a dual purpose: it reaffirms white supremacy and consolidates power by criminalizing and marginalizing those who resist. Historically, authoritarian regimes rely on the systematic targeting of marginalized groups to justify their expansion of control. In this case, Black Americans—whose labor built the nation and whose struggle has defined its moral consciousness—are once again being positioned as scapegoats in a larger political strategy.

Furthermore, authoritarianism thrives on social conditioning that normalizes oppression. The illusion that these policy shifts are mere political disagreements, rather than existential threats to democracy, is a key feature of authoritarian control. The more people accept these changes as routine governance, the easier it becomes to implement further rollbacks on civil rights.

The dismantling of DEI initiatives and broader civil rights protections is not a neutral policy shift; it is a calculated effort to reinforce racial hierarchies under the guise of “reform.” Cognitive dissonance allows many to ignore the contradictions between their democratic ideals and their complicity in racial oppression. White supremacy ensures that policies aimed at achieving racial justice are framed as dangerous or unfair. Moral disengagement allows people to justify these rollbacks without confronting their ethical implications. And finally, the creeping authoritarianism behind these measures seeks to suppress resistance and maintain the illusion of democracy while dismantling its core principles.

This is not business as usual. This is not normal. This is a deliberate unraveling of justice. And unless this reality is acknowledged and resisted, history will once again repeat itself—at the cost of Black lives and the very democracy America claims to uphold.

Daniel L. Hollar, Ph.D.

Provost Fellow | Associate Professor

Department of Psychology

College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Bethune-Cookman University

640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd.

Daytona Beach, FL 32114

Office: Lemerand Nursing Building Room 213

Phone:  386-481-2526

Email:   HollarD@cookman.edu

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