Implicit Bias

Dushaw Hockett, founder and Executive Director of Safe Places for the Advancement of Community and Equity.

Why do we need to know about Implicit Bias?

This video explains:

Characteristics of Implicit Bias
Why a focus on Implicit Bias "can help move this country forward" with strong implications for achieving educational equity

What is Implicit Bias? Who has Implicit Bias?

Implicit bias refers to the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious way. Thoughts and feelings are “implicit” if we are unaware of them or mistaken about their nature. We have a bias when, rather than being neutral, we have a preference for (or aversion to) a person or group of people. Thus, we use the term “implicit bias” to describe when we have attitudes towards people or associate stereotypes with them without our conscious knowledge. Implicit bias is a universal phenomenon, not limited by race, gender, or even country of origin.

Implicit biases become evident in many different domains of society. On an interpersonal level, they can manifest in simply daily interactions. This occurs when certain actions (or microaggressions) make others feel uncomfortable or aware of the specific prejudices you may hold against them. Removing these biases is a challenge, especially because we often don’t even know they exist, but research reveals potential interventions and provides hope that levels of implicit biases in the United States are decreasing. (Source: Simply Psychology)

First: Watch the 5 minute video about Implicit Bias and then with your PLC, reflect on the first thing that comes to mind with each of the items in the bulleted list.

Reflect: As educators, what are the implications of our biases?

What comes to mind when you think of a student with each characteristic below?

Good penmanship
A student blurting out an answer
A student raising their hand to answer a question
A lack of personal hygiene
An overweight student
An honor roll student that doesn't appear in class one day
A failing student that doesn't appear in class one day

Where does Implicit Bias come from?

This video from Kirwan Institute uses our knowledge of how the brain works to explain Implicit Bias. This video is told from a "genderqueer person in the work force" who holds "a strong association that directly opposes [their] own values and self-interests."

The Lifelong Effects of Implicit Bias

This video, from the Kirwan Institute, explores some of the ways that individual impacts of implicit bias can compound to create large negative impacts for people of color.

Other key points about implicit bias:

Implicit biases are unconscious attitudes and stereotypes that can manifest in the criminal justice system, workplace, school setting, and in the healthcare system.
Implicit bias is also known as unconscious bias or implicit social cognition.
There are many different examples of implicit biases, ranging from categories of race, gender, and sexuality.
These biases often arise as a result of trying to find patterns and navigate the overwhelming stimuli in this very complicated world. Culture, media, and upbringing can also contribute to the development of such biases

Take a Test: Project Implicit

Project Implicit is a "501(c)(3) non-profit organization and international collaborative of researchers who are interested in implicit social cognition." It's mission is to educate the public about bias and "educate the public about bias and to provide a “virtual laboratory” for collecting data on the internet."

Take a test! You can assess your biases by taking a self-assessment here.

Please visit https://www.projectimplicit.net to learn more about our team and the programs and services that we offer.

Additional Resources and Information

A full learning module on implicit bias is available from Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity.

Page updated

Report abuse