Exploring Bias

Creating Community

The Psychology of 

Us vs. Them

What is Behind Us Vs. Them?

Watch the video below. 

This is a picture of where to click on the video to get close captioning (cc) and to make the picture larger (rectangle) or smaller (4 arrows in rectangle pointing to the center)

Pierpont's What is Behind Us vs. Them? Video

Below are PDF options of transcripts of the video above Pierpont's Microaggressions

Table Version

What Is Behind Us Vs Them Video Transcript Table.pdf

Story Version

What Is Behind Us Vs Them Video Transcript Story Form.pdf

What is Bias?

Biases are cognitive shortcuts our brain uses to quickly make decisions and act.

Everyone has biases.  Biases are mindsets.

A mindset is a collection of beliefs, including self-perceptions. 

It is a thought habit. 

We learned them when we were very small.

We modified them as we aged and had life experiences. 

Biases can be helpful or harmful, depending upon the situation.

Let's start with prejudice. 

Prejudice is a preconceived opinion (beliefs, thoughts, feelings, and attitudes) someone holds about a person or group that is not based on reason or actual experience.

Prejudice in favor of or against 

one thing, person, or group compared with another, 

in a way considered to be unfair is bias.

How does bias manifest?

Conscious

 or 

explicit bias


Stereotypes about certain groups of people that individuals consciously form (on purpose) that inform their thoughts and actions. 

This is a picture of an iceberg in the ocean with the top signifying consciousness and the part underwater signifying subconsciousness.

Unconscious

 or 

Implicit Bias

Stereotypes about certain groups of people that individuals form outside their own conscious awareness that inform thoughts and actions. 

There are many types of biases.

If you are interested, take the time to research them. 

(This is not required for this module.)

Using Critical Thinking skills helps us become aware of our unconscious biases.

We can see if our conscious and unconscious biases are true, partly true, or false.

What are stereotypes?

Pierpont's Stereotypes Video

Stereotypes - West Virginia w CC.mp4

The video is close-captioned.  

Below are PDF options of transcripts of the video above Stereotypes

Table Version

Stereotypes Video Transcript Table.pdf

Story Version

Stereotypes Video Transcript Story Form.pdf
This is a cartoon picture of a Native American indian wearning buckskin, with a feather in a headband, and pulling an arrow from a sheath on his back to put in the bow being held in his hand.

"You're Native American.  Can you teach me to shoot arrows?"


Stereotypes are oversimplified images or ideas of a particular type of person or thing. 


They can be based on race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation—almost any characteristic.



They may be positive (usually about one’s own group, such as when women suggest they are less likely to complain about physical pain because they have endured childbirth).

 They may also be negative (usually toward other groups, such as when members of a racial group suggest that a stereotyped racial group is stupid or lazy). 

This is a picture of two women, one Caucasian (who is asking a question) and one Black (who is standing with her arm crossed), with a watermelon and pieces of fried chicken on the floor between them

"The office picnic is Friday.  Can you bring the watermelon or fried chicken?"

Cartoon picture of a male head with a tear on his cheek.

"Man up!  Real men don't cry!"

In either case, the stereotype is a generalization that doesn’t take individual differences into account.

Stereotypes are not true to life, unless the victimized person or group changes their behaviors to match them. 

What is Stereotype Threat?

This occurs when a person of a stereotyped group is at risk of conforming to negative stereotypes about their social group.  

This is understood as a contributing factor to long-standing racial and gender gaps in academic performance. 

Mindset

If we believe we can't, we can't.

What we want to see, we see. 

This is a picture of a young girls head with two thought bubbles: one with a picture of a lab coat and lab bottle with a large red X through it; one with picture of a party dress with a large green checkmark on it.

"Girls are not as smart as guys in science and math."

What is discrimination?

This is a picture of a male in a wheelchair sitting at the bottom of a staircase that has a sign, "Way in, Everyone Welcome."

Unconscious discrimination

"Let's use the stairs because they are closer"

Non-thinking

While prejudice refers to biased thinking,

discrimination consists of actions against a group of people based on a person's biased thinking. 

Like biases, discrimination actions can be conscious or unconscious.

Same picture as the one on the left. This is a picture of a male in a wheelchair sitting at the bottom of a staircase that has a sign, "Way in, Everyone Welcome."

Conscious discrimination

“Let’s only use the stairs to keep those people out.”

Planned, Purposeful

What are Microaggressions?

Microaggressions often appear to be a compliment or a joke, but contain a hidden insult about a group of people.  

Just like biases, they can be conscious (the person does it intentionally) or unconscious. 

This is a picture of where to click on the video to get close captioning (cc) and to make the picture larger (rectangle) or smaller (4 arrows in rectangle pointing to the center)

Pierpont's Microaggressions Video

Below are PDF options of transcripts of the video above Pierpont's Microaggressions

Table Version

Microaggressions Video Transcript Table.pdf

Story Version

Microaggressions Video Transcript Story Form.pdf

What if I want to change my conscious and unconscious biases?

8 Strategies to Change Your Conscious and Unconscious Bias • Increase your contact with people who are different from you o Watch and ask questions to broaden your understanding. • Look for positive examples o Increase your knowledge by looking for positive examples of the group. • Be specific in your intent o Decide to turn off your negative biases. • Challenge your thoughts o Fact Checking. Use critical thinking to see if what you believe, your "stories," are actually true. • Heighten your awareness of yourself o Be curious. Do I have biases? Where did they come from? Why do I hold on to them? Do I want to change them? • Practice applying your new beliefs in different situations o Acting on biases is a habit. Practicing other thoughts and behaviors creates a new habit. • Embrace diversity as a positive thing o Fact: The world is diverse. Diversity enhances creativity. It encourages the search for novel information and perspectives, leading to better decision making and problem solving. It helps survival. • Take care of yourself o When we are tired or stressed, it is difficult to act in positive ways. Caring for ourselves helps us care for others.

If you would like to print a paper copy,

click below to access a PDF version.

8 Strategies to Change Your Conscious and Unconscious Bias.pdf

For more information...

(This is not required to complete this module)

Bystander Effect & Bullying 

Communication and Assertive Communication