Implicit Bias

Implicit bias definition

"...an unconsciously triggered belief in the inferiority of, or negative attitude toward, a group(s)..." "unconscious negative beliefs and feelings about racial groups may not appear on a survey but may be revealed in everyday interpersonal interactions at work, at school, or on the street" (Clair & Denis, 2015, p. 859)

Who developed the IAT

Anthony Greenwald (1988)

Implicit bias vs explicit bias

Implicit = unconscious, automatic thoughts Explicit = stated, conscious thoughts

Dealing with Implicit Associations

Recognizing personal implicit biases is an important step towards reducing intergroup bias and discrimination -When people devote time and effort into their thought processes they can respond to others in terms of their conscious personal values and beliefs

Implicit Association Test

Social psychology measure designed to assess the strength of a person's implicit, automatic associations between concepts by measuring the speed of response

Formation of Implicit Associations

socialization experiences: we all learn these stereotypes and have these biases at the ready whether we condone them or not Exposure to cultural examples, media exposure, first-hand experience contribute perceptions of other groups More likely to judge others in terms of implicit stereotypes when we are in a hurry and when... -cognitive resources (e.g., memory, attention span) are limited -cognitively "lazy" (i.e., we don't want to give much time or thought to an issue)

Explicit attitudes may or may not agree with

the content of the implicit association