It turns out that everyone’s a little bit racist. But don’t worry, we can use our biases to change our behaviour for the better
At this point, you’re probably shouting: “Nonsense! I treat everyone the same!” Yet our biases are subtle, and are so deeply rooted in our unconscious that we don’t know they exist. Often dubbed ‘implicit bias’, these attitudes insidiously influence how we think and behave. They can affect who we choose as friends and partners, and it can mean we ascribe personality traits to others based on little more than skin colour, sexual orientation or some other feature. This is different to what is seen in bigoted individuals, who knowingly and consciously discriminate based on factors of difference such as race or religion.
Yet even though it is unconscious, implicit bias is still harmful as it can lead to discrimination and miscarriages of justice. So what can we do about it?
Mind matters
This story is from the November 2018 edition of Very Interesting.
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This story is from the November 2018 edition of Very Interesting.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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