Implicit vs. Explicit Bias: Exploring the Complex Relationship

Implicit and explicit bias are two types of bias that are closely related. Understanding these two biases is critical since they can lead to discrimination against minorities in the workplace, schools, and other settings. While they may appear to be distinct issues, they are, in fact, deeply intertwined. 

Implicit and explicit bias are two different ways our minds construe the world. Implicit bias is unintentional, universal, and difficult to control. Explicit bias, on the other hand, is conscious. Understanding both types of bias is essential for striving for equality in all aspects of life. In this article, we'll explore how these two biases are different.

What’s In The Article?

• Explaining Explicit Bias

• How To Masure Explicit Bias

• Explaining Implicit Bias

• How To Measure Implicit Bias

• The Difference Between Implicit And Explicit Bias

• Final Thoughts

Explaining Explicit Bias

An explicit bias is a conscious and intentional attitude or behavior. It is the most common type of bias and can be changed through training. Explicit bias can manifest in various ways, including discriminatory policies and practices.

Explicit bias refers to beliefs or attitudes about specific groups based on race, gender, and other characteristics. It is the practice of making decisions about others based on stereotypes, prejudices, and assumptions. Explicit bias is dependent on the context. It is conscious and can evolve over time. Personal experience, knowledge, and beliefs all contribute to explicit bias. 

Changing one's attitude toward another group of people or oneself can also change explicit biases. For instance, by correcting false information about stereotypes associated with specific groups of people, one can avoid stereotyping based on incorrect information anymore.

How To Masure Explicit Bias

A questionnaire is one method for measuring explicit bias. Participants in a survey are asked to rate their feelings toward various groups, such as blacks and whites or men and women. They may also be asked how they feel about other issues concerning those groups. Another approach is to ask people what they would think if they had to work with someone of a different race or gender. The responses are then compared to actual behavior.

Explaining Implicit Bias

In contrast to explicit bias, implicit bias is unintentional and unconscious. In controlled experiments, implicit measures of racial preference have been shown to predict discriminatory behavior. It is a preference for one race over another that you may or may not be aware of, but it can influence your behavior and decisions without your knowledge. Implicit bias is our unconscious bias toward people who are different from us regarding race, gender, and ethnicity. We may not even be aware of its presence because it operates subconsciously. Even when we don't intend it, implicit biases can lead to discriminatory behavior.

Life experiences, particularly early in life, shape our attitudes and beliefs. Learning something new becomes linked with similar experiences in our memory and shapes how we think about things later on, even if those thoughts are inaccurate or unfair. This process occurs without our awareness, so many people are unaware of their biases until someone points them out or shows them evidence that contradicts them.

How To Measure Implicit Bias

The implicit association test (IAT) is a psychological test that assesses a person's ability to associate two concepts automatically. The IAT was created in 1998 by Anthony Greenwald and colleagues as part of their research on cognitive processes. This test aimed to see if people could control their automatic associations when presented with stimuli that could trigger these biases.

The Difference Between Implicit And Explicit Bias

While both types of bias are based on the belief that some people are better than others, their motivations differ. Explicit bias is intentional and conscious. You are aware that you are doing it. On the other hand, implicit bias is unintentional and unconscious. It is something you are unaware of as part of your behavior. 

Implicit biases predict behavior better than explicit biases. This means a person can have a positive attitude toward people of color while still engaging in discriminatory behavior. According to research, implicit racial biases are more strongly linked to behavior than explicit ones. This suggests that, even if you don't consider yourself racist, your unconscious thoughts may be influencing how you interact with others on a daily basis.

Furthermore, environmental factors such as media portrayals and interactions with others can shape our implicit biases over time, even if we are unaware of them.

Addressing Implicit And Explicit Bias

Self-awareness is the most effective way to address both implicit and explicit bias. This is the first step toward overcoming bias, which can be attained through introspection. The more you understand yourself, the better you will be able to understand your biases and how they may affect others. For example, suppose a person naturally tends to be suspicious of people different from them. In that case, they should consider why this is so before making assumptions about someone else's intentions or character based solely on their appearance.

Final Thoughts

While implicit and explicit bias can harm people, they have different causes and consequences. A better understanding of these two types of bias will help us develop effective solutions to address them individually and as a society.

The relationship between implicit and explicit bias is complicated, but it is critical to understand how they interact. Implicit bias is difficult to detect because its impacts are not always obvious. However, once you know what to look for, you can begin taking steps to eliminate this bias from your life, which starts with being aware that it exists in the first place.