Unconscious Bias: What impact does it

have on our behavior?

AGENDA

Increase understanding of unconscious bias

Recognize where and how unconscious bias manifests through our behavior

Identify strategies to reduce the harmful impact of unconscious biases in the workplace

We all have

stereotypes & unconscious

biases.

What is the definition of unconscious bias?

a) A measure of how strongly one associates a concept (e.g., pleasant/unpleasant) with one or another social group

b) Generalization about a group of people or particular identity

c) To distinguish, single out, or make a distinction about a group, person, or thing

d) Acting with rudeness and insensitivity towards someone based on of their diverse identities

If we are all biased, how do I know what

my biases are?

• Introduced in 1998 by Harvard, UVA, and others

• Associations Influence attitudes and behaviors

• Test measures in milliseconds the length of time to answer

• Your automatic preference may be described as slight moderate strong little to no preference

Implicit Association Test: https://implicit.harvard.edu

Perception InterpretationType of

Interaction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW5s_-Nl3JE

Affinity BiasActs of omission vs. acts of commission

Micro-Inequity = The Manifestation of Affinity BiasDefined as “apparently small events which are often ephemeral and hard-to-

prove, events which are covert, often unintentional, frequently unrecognized by the perpetrator, which occur wherever people are perceived to be ‘different.’” (M. Rowe, 1973)

Consistently saying someone’s name wrong

Making eye contact with only certain people in a group

Taking more questions from men than women

Why are you so quiet? We want to hear from you more. (said to an Asian person)

Strategies Moving Forward…• Ask questions instead of making assumptions.

• Assess your environment through climate surveys.

• Conduct bias training for teams.

• Exposure to counter-stereotypes.

• Hiring: resume name removal, team interviews, and challenger

Thank You! Questions?

314-246-3142www.dapstl.org