Bridging Divides: A Cross-Disciplinary Design Innovation Approach to Mitigating Extreme Behavioral Expressions of Prejudice

Abstract

This paper introduces a cross-disciplinary design innovation framework to understand, predict, and mitigate Extreme Behavioral Expressions of Prejudice (EBEPs). While traditional psychological and sociological approaches have explained the roots of prejudice, they often lack actionable and scalable solutions. By integrating design thinking, engineering, business strategies, and cultural studies, the authors developed the Empathy-Driven Counter-Speech Platform (EDCSP), which combines hate speech detection with the generation of empathetic counter-narratives. Experimental and field studies demonstrated its strong performance in accurately identifying hate speech, reducing its prevalence, and fostering more positive online interactions. The findings highlight the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, showing how technological innovation and human-centered design can provide practical, scalable solutions for strengthening social cohesion and addressing prejudice. This research lays the groundwork for future adaptive, ethical, and culturally sensitive interventions against EBEPs.