Implicit Bias

What does the term BIAS mean?

A preference for or against an individual or group that interferes with or influences fair judgment. Bias can be both conscious and unconscious.

What does the term IMPLICIT BIAS mean?

The assumptions, stereotypes, and unintentional actions (positive or negative) we make towards others based on identity labels like race, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, or ability. Because our implicit associations are stored in our subconscious, we may act on our biases without even realizing it. Often, our implicit biases contradict our values.

And EVERYONE has implicit biases.

Why is understanding IMPLICIT BIAS important?

Implicit bias is also referred to as unconscious bias.

Unconscious bias research has shown that although in some circumstances it can be harmless with no lasting negative impact, it can also be enormously damaging, especially unconscious bias in the workplace.

Our biases affect us and our decision-making processes in a number of different ways:

• Our Perception – how we see people and perceive reality.
• Our Attitude – how we react towards certain people.
• Our Behaviors – how receptive/friendly we are towards certain people.
• Our Attention – which aspects of a person we pay most attention to.
• Our Listening Skills – how much we actively listen to what certain people say.
• Our Micro-affirmations – how much or how little we comfort certain people in certain situations.

A father and his son are involved in a horrific car crash and the man died at the scene. But when the child arrived at the hospital and was rushed into the operating room, the surgeon pulled away and said: “I can’t operate on this boy, he’s my son."

How can this be?

Could there be another answer?

This story is often used to demonstrate the way that unconscious bias works. If you struggled to get the answer, you are not alone. The point of the riddle is to show how our own biases affect our judgement without us realizing it.

Different types of unconscious bias are often defined as stereotypes, prejudices or deeply held beliefs which lead us to favor one thing, person, or group over another, in a way that is usually considered unfair. Everyone’s unconscious bias is different according to the unique social factors which influenced them and formed the individual they are.

There are many types of unconscious biases. Below are just a few that can help you to appreciate how unconscious bias impacts us all.

Affinity bias – The tendency to favor people who are like us. Affinity bias, also known as similarity bias, is the tendency people have to connect with others who share similar interests, experiences and backgrounds.

Ageism - The tendency to have negative feelings about another person based on their age.

Beauty bias - The tendency to believe that attractive people are more successful, competent and qualified.

Confirmation bias – The tendency to find reasons and ways to confirm stereotypes and assumptions about a group of people. Confirmation bias is the inclination to draw conclusions about a situation or person based on your personal desires, beliefs and prejudices rather than on unbiased merit.

Gender bias - The tendency to prefer one gender over another gender.

Halo effect – The tendency to believe that a person is capable and skilled simply because you like them. The halo effect is the tendency people have to place another person on a pedestal after learning something impressive about them.

Horns effect - The tendency people have to view another person negatively after learning something unpleasant or negative about them.

Name bias - The tendency people have to judge and prefer people with certain types of names — typically names that are of Anglo origin.

Perception bias – The tendency to believe something about an entire group of people based on stereotypes and assumptions.

Strategies to reduce the effects of implicit bias

Implicit bias can be addressed if we become aware of our biases and take actions to redirect our responses. Below is a list of possible actions you can take to address your own biases:

• Be aware of your own biases
• Challenge assumptions, challenge traditions
• Challenge stereotypes
• Have a healthy curiosity of different cultures
• Imagine individuals as the opposite of the stereotype
• Look for alternative points of view
• Notice biases in others
• Put yourself into the other person's shoes
• Recognize situations that magnify stereotyping and bias
• Recognize when a response is based on a stereotype and adjust the response
• See people as individuals rather than stereotypes
• Spend time with people different than yourself
• Understand and respect the tremendous power of unconscious bias