Modeling the Discriminatory Mind

While social psychology has long studied prejudice, this research adopts the framework of Active Inference—a theory of how the brain minimizes "surprisal" to make sense of the world. By applying this neuroscientific lens, the team explored how cognitive mechanisms lead individuals to adopt discriminatory attitudes and, in extreme cases, dehumanize others.

The study introduces the concept of Zones of Bounded Surprisal (ZBS) to describe the "bandwidth" of human belief systems. "Our research suggests that a discriminatory mind is characterized by a narrow ZBS, which acts as a rigid filter that prevents individuals from updating their beliefs when faced with evidence that contradicts their prejudices," explains Prof. Héctor M. Manrique, lead author of the study.

"This work represents a major theoretical shift for Comparative Minds. We are moving from observing behaviour to modeling the very internal mechanics of how social bias becomes ingrained. By collaborating with experts like Karl J. Friston, we are applying the Free Energy Principle to understand the most pressing social issues of our time, such as racism and institutional betrayal." — Héctor M. Manrique.

Rigidity and the "Dehumanising" Mind

The core of the research distinguishes between a discriminatory mind and a dehumanising one. According to the authors, when ZBS bandwidths become extremely narrow or "canalised," beliefs about the in-group and out-group become nearly impossible to change.

The study highlights several key cognitive patterns:

• Acquiescence and Silence: Individuals with narrow ZBS often remain acquiescent when witnessing poor behavior within their own in-group.

• Dehumanization as Inference: If an individual infers that another is "unlike me," the brain may fail to deploy "Theory of Mind," treating the other as non-human or animal-like.

• Self-Fulfilling Prophecies: Discriminatory minds may behave in ways that provoke negative reactions from out-groups, which are then used as "evidence" to reinforce existing prejudices and reduce cognitive surprise.

Scientific Impact and Institutional Responsibility

By documenting these mechanisms, the Comparative Minds group reinforces the link between computational neuroscience and social justice. The research also addresses institutional betrayal, noting how organizations may "close ranks" to protect their public profile rather than addressing the harm caused by discriminatory members.

"Understanding that these biases are tied to the brain's fundamental drive to minimize uncertainty allows us to design better policies," says Héctor M. Manrique. "It’s not just about education; it’s about creating environments that encourage the widening of these 'zones of surprise' so that diversity is no longer perceived as a threat to a person’s internal model of the world".

Reference:

Manrique, H. M., Friston, K. J., & Walker, M. J. (2026). An active inference explanation of discriminatory cognition with regard to social attitudes and harmful behaviour. BioSystems, 264, 105793.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystems.2026.105793