Unconscious Bias: What Is It?

Also known as implicit bias or hidden bias.

“Unconscious bias refers to a bias that we are unaware of, and which happens outside of our control. It is a bias that happens automatically and is triggered by our brain making quick judgments and assessments of people and situations, influenced by our background, cultural environment and personal experiences.”

Unconscious Bias: Why, How & Who?

Conceptually arose as a way to explain why discrimination persists even though research clearly shows that people oppose it.
Unconscious biases can be positive or negative.
Much of our social behavior is driven by learned stereotypes that operate automatically – and therefore unconsciously — when we interact with others.

Growing evidence demonstrates that unconscious biases impact behavior.
EVERYONE HAS THEM

Measuring Unconscious Bias: Implicit Association Tests (IAT)

Collaborative research effort between researchers at Harvard, University of Virginia, and University of Washington

Use reaction time measurement to examine unconscious bias.

The first step in decreasing discrimination and thereby reducing health disparities is to recognize our individual biases.

The IAT can be a starting point. Collaborative research effort between researchers at Harvard, University of Virginia, and University of Washington

Use reaction time measurement to examine unconscious bias

The first step in decreasing discrimination and thereby reducing health disparities is to recognize our individual biases.

The IAT can be a starting point.


Please take a few minutes to complete an IAT by clicking on this link:

https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html

This is for your personal reflection only.  We will ask you to think about your experience with the IAT later in this module.