Merrick R. Osborne

Really excited about this work with Eric Anicich and @cydneydupree.bsky.social -- thank you to @cornellilr.bsky.social for the write-up!

The takeaway isn’t “don’t confront.”
Instead:

1. confront independently
2. don’t single out the target
3. Effective allyship isn’t an identity—it’s a practice judged by impact, not intent.

That emotional burden changes how the ally is perceived.
When allies offload the moment:
- They are seen as less deserving of status
- Marginalized people are less interested in working with them
- Less likely to want them leading DEI efforts

Being singled out by an ally during a confrontation puts the targeted person on the spot.

They’re suddenly responsible for:
• explaining harm
• managing emotions
• risking backlash

That’s not always empowering. We find that it’s added emotional burden at exactly the wrong moment.

Well-intentioned allyship can backfire.
When allies confront bias by turning to the targeted employee in the moment (“Can you explain why that was offensive?”), it often increases stress—and reduces respect for the ally.

A (costly) penny for your thoughts? Allies cause harm by seeking marginalized group members' help when confronting prejudice When confronting acts of prejudice in the workplace, allies may seek help from marginalized group members, thereby involving them (potentially against…

My new research, w/ Eric Anicich and @cydneydupree.bsky.social, is now published in JESP!

Osborne, Anicich, & Dupree (2026). A (costly) penny for your thoughts? Allies cause harm by seeking marginalized group members' help when confronting prejudice. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Can someone else figure out my syllabi and also set up my canvas shells

A theory of stereotype negotiation Inequality is pervasive, challenging people and organizations. Yet we lack a clear picture of how people navigate inequality in everyday social and or…

New paper building a theory of stereotype negotiation. How people don't just let stereotypes happen to them; instead they constantly and actively navigate social impressions and others' evaluations by @cydneydupree.bsky.social: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...