Unconscious Forces: Understanding How Implicit Bias Develops

Implicit bias is a term used to describe our unconscious prejudices toward specific groups of people. It’s not always clear how the development of implicit bias occurs, but research suggests that it can affect everyone, even those who try hard not to be biased.

The more you understand the unconscious forces that influence your behavior, the better you’ll be at making decisions that lead to a more equitable and inclusive workplace. This post will go over implicit bias, how it develops, and why it is important.

What’s In The Article?

• Unconscious Biases

• Implicit Bias Vs. Conscious Bias

• Factors Contributing To The Development Of Implicit Bias

• Reducing The Impact Of Implicit Bias

• Final Thoughts

Unconscious Biases

Unconscious processes are not always harmful. In fact, we use them for various important tasks, such as driving a car or riding a bike. They can help us make decisions because they allow us to respond quickly to situations without stopping and considering every possible outcome. This is especially true when immediate action is required. Unconscious biases, on the other hand, can lead people down dangerous or unfair paths.

Implicit bias is a normal part of the human experience. It is an unconscious process that develops over time, and we are all born with implicit biases acquired during childhood and reinforced through society. These biases can be positive or negative, but they all share one trait: they are not based on who we truly are as individuals. They commonly reflect what others have said about us and others throughout our lives.

For instance, suppose you were constantly told as a child that women couldn’t do math or that men should always be dominant in conversations. In that case, those messages become part of your core beliefs about yourself and others over time, even if they contradict other things. These competing ideas create tension, which leads us down paths where we unconsciously act out against those who do not fit into our worldviews by making assumptions based on stereotypes rather than getting to know people as individuals first.

Implicit Bias Vs. Conscious Bias

While both types of bias impact our actions, implicit biases are automatic and unconscious. They are shaped by previous experiences, leading to discriminatory behavior without your knowledge or intent. 

Stereotypes and other forms of prejudice, such as racism or sexism, are examples of stereotype threats. It specifically refers to situations in which someone feels pressured because they are a member of an oppressed group. The pressure stems from the belief that others expect them to fail and confirm negative stereotypes associated with their group identity.

The Implicit Association Test (IAT)

The implicit association test (IAT) measures automatic preferences, not behavior, in the real world. The IAT measures implicit bias rather than explicit bias. If you score high on one test and low on another, it does not imply that you are less biased than someone who scores low on both. Your unconscious preferences may be more dangerous than those of others with more conscious control over their actions.

The IAT doesn’t tell us how much we’ve changed since the last time we took it or if our attitudes have changed. It only tells us what they were like at one point in time.

Factors Contributing To The Development Of Implicit Bias

According to research, many factors, including genetics and socialization, contribute to the development of implicit bias. As we grow older, we are exposed to various environments and experiences that shape our worldview. School or home experiences can influence a community or society’s beliefs and cultural norms.

These beliefs eventually become a part of your worldview–your way of thinking about how things work in the world around you. Your culture frequently influences your worldview. However, everyone has a unique perspective on life based on their upbringing. Certain ideas are more widely accepted than others in certain societies because they have been deemed acceptable by those in positions of power within those societies.

One of the most important aspects of implicit bias is that societal norms influence it. The media greatly influences how we think about race and gender, which can lead to implicit biases. If you are exposed to negative stereotypes about a certain group, your brain will unconsciously begin associating those groups with negative qualities.

The media also has a significant impact on how we behave as individuals. This means that if you watch movies in which women are portrayed as weak and men are portrayed as strong leaders, when you see two people arguing in real life, your brain may automatically assume one person is correct while the other is incorrect because they were male or female.

Reducing The Impact Of Implicit Bias

There are steps you can take to reduce the impact of implicit bias on your behavior as you become more aware of it and how it affects your own behavior.

First, acknowledge your biases. Recognizing your implicit bias is the first step toward reducing its impact, which may be easier said than done. To truly understand what is happening inside ourselves, we must admit our flaws, accept them, and work toward change. You should also be mindful of your actions. You need to exercise caution when making decisions about other people. Asking yourself questions will help you become more aware of how minor differences between two options may affect different groups differently. Avoid making assumptions about people based solely on stereotypes or generalizations. 

We like to think of ourselves as fair and unbiased, but the truth is that we all have unconscious biases. These unconscious associations between groups of people and ideas or actions can influence our behavior in ways we are unaware of, even if they accurately reflect what is happening around us.

If you’ve ever given someone preferential treatment because of their race, gender identity, or sexual orientation, you’ve witnessed the impact of implicit bias firsthand. Recognizing this can help us take steps to reduce its influence on our behavior by doing things like:

• Being aware of how implicit associations form over time as a result of repeated exposure;

• Recognizing that there will always be some element of subjectivity in making judgments about others;

• Reminding yourself why it is so important for everyone involved when making decisions that affect those who might otherwise be marginalized in society due to factors beyond their control.

Final Thoughts

We can increase our understanding of unconscious biases and their impact on decision-making. By acknowledging the development of implicit bias in ourselves and others, we will be better able to work toward a society where everyone’s voice is heard equally. Without a doubt, implicit bias is a complex phenomenon with numerous causes. But that should not prevent us from taking action.