This month’s conversation topic is implicit bias, also referred to as unconscious bias. On Friday, April 21, I had the privilege of discussing implicit bias with the staff of our Centers and our GSAPP central staff. Together we discussed what implicit bias is, the fact that we all have implicit biases, ways in which they show up in our lives and our work, and a strategy for becoming more aware of them. This month, I hope everyone will take some time to reflect on how the following types of implicit bias play out in our daily lives:
- Affinity bias – feeling a connection to those similar to us;
- Perception bias – stereotypes and assumptions about different groups;
- Halo Effect – projecting positive qualities onto people without actually knowing them;
- Horn Effect – projecting negative qualities onto people without actually knowing them; and
- Confirmation bias – Looking to confirm our own opinions and pre-existing ideas.
Engaging in self-reflection is another way we can all help build a better GSAPP.
