All of our brains hold hidden assumptions, attitudes, or even stereotypes that we associate with different social groups and identities. These are things we’ve learned since childhood, from family, friends, media, and popular culture. These hidden assumptions, unfortunately, can affect our behavior and decision-making when interacting with people of these groups in ways we’re not initially aware of. This is known as implicit, or unconscious, bias. 

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Scientifically speaking, implicit bias can help humans stay safe. The amygdala-- the part of the brain responsible for processing information -- automatically categorizes millions of pieces of stimuli to help us make snap decisions and judgements. This is particularly helpful in assessing whether a situation is safe or not, which is triggered when the brain’s fight, flight, or freeze response is activated. 

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Socially speaking, this automatic categorization of situations and people can have a negative, sometimes fatal, impact. For example, implicit bias can lead to a lack of diversity in the workplace due to an unconscious assumption that certain types of people are better workers.  Additionally, as we’ve seen repeatedly in the U.S., it can also cause law enforcement to wrongfully assume certain people are more dangerous because of a social identifier. In addition to affecting our individual lives, extensive research has shown that unconscious bias has an impact on healthcare, criminal justice, hiring, mentoring, and education.

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Implicit bias can directly contradict our conscious beliefs and values. Even if we believe one thing, situations in which we’re stressed, distracted, multi-tasking, or under time pressure can “activate” our implicit biases. Because of this reality, as individuals trying to make the world a better place, we have a responsibility to not just change people and systems around us, but also change ourselves through what community organizer Melanie Funchess calls ‘transformational activism’. 

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“In order for us to have this better world we’re talking about, we must be better ourselves and be better to each other” – Melanie Funchess

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Having implicit biases does not make any of us bad people, but they can negatively impact others whether we realize it or not. Therefore, we must minimize and reduce harm to ensure our implicit biases do not influence our daily behaviors and decisions by assessing and addressing these biases.

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Self-awareness is the first step to identifying and unlearning our unconscious biases. If you ask yourself in this moment, “What unconscious biases do I hold”, you’ll probably have a hard time pinpointing one. However, the next time you’re in a situation in which you make an assumption about someone, stop to ask yourself “Why did I think/say that? What is the root cause of this assumption? Did I make that assumption because of their race, sexual identity, disability, etc.”? 

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Unconscious bias can translate into verbal and non-verbal actions, so also be mindful of your behavior and body language towards others. For instance, say you’re getting on a nearly crowded bus and there are only two empty seats available next to strangers with visibly different identity markers. In that quick moment, your brain makes a decision to sit down next to a certain stranger or not sit at all. Ask yourself what about the people influenced your decision? Where is this assumption coming from? Being self-aware in every situation is not always possible, so approach situations with an open mind when others point out biased comments or behaviors.

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Additionally, the stereotypes we hold don’t always pertain to those who hold different social identities from ourselves. Largely due to mainstream cultural and societal norms and ideals (which in many countries are influenced by colonialism and white supremacy), positive and negative stereotypes about our own social identities can embed themselves into our unconscious thinking. Start to become aware of the unconscious expectation and assumptions you hold towards yourself or others similar to you. 

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One way to test your potential unconscious biases is through the Implicit Association Test created by Project Implicit. The test determines your strength of association of social identifiers with evaluations (good, bad) or stereotypes by measuring the time it takes you to respond. The test is not all-telling, but it may reveal some unconscious assumptions or stereotypes that you didn’t know you had.

Take the Test in English 

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To address harmful biases and replace them with empathy and understanding, it’s important to interact with those who are different from ourselves. This could, and should, include stepping out of homogeneous groups and engaging with people who are “socially dissimilar” to ourselves. Within those heterogeneous groups, try to create a safe space in which people can ask questions without assumptions and have tough conversations without judgment. Learning cannot start and stop with us, so share what you learned with family, friends, coworkers, and classmates who may not have the opportunity or will to interact with others different than themselves. 

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It’s also important for us to challenge the societal and cultural norms in which assumptions and stereotypes are rooted. Exposing ourselves and those around us to diverse voices and normalizing the unexpected is one way to do so.

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Assessing and addressing our biases is a life-long process. Continuing to engage in transformational activism is important on the individual level, but we should also work to interrogate biases at the institutional level to work toward systemic change where no one's human rights are contingent on another’s biases.

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