What Is Implicit Bias? | Definition & Examples

Implicit bias is a collection of associations and reactions that emerge automatically upon encountering an individual or group. We associate negative or positive stereotypes with certain groups and let these influence how we treat them rather than remaining neutral.

This can lead to discriminatory behavior in a wide range of contexts such as healthcare, the workplace, and education.

What is implicit bias?

Implicit bias is an unconscious preference for (or aversion to) a particular person or group. Although these feelings can be either positive or negative, they cause us to be unfair towards others. Affinity bias or the tendency to favor people who are similar to us, is an example of this unfair behavior. However, any aspect of an individual’s identity, such as age, gender, or socioeconomic background, can be the target of implicit bias.

Under implicit bias, we are unaware that our biases (rather than objective facts) affect our decisions and judgments. For example, when most people hear the word “kindergarten teacher,” they are more likely to picture a female. This can happen without intention or awareness and may even contradict openly held beliefs. Because implicit bias is unconscious, it is difficult to acknowledge and control.

What causes implicit bias?

Implicit bias occurs due to unconscious mental processes. There are several factors at play in the development of implicit biases:

• Our brains create categories. We have the natural tendency to assign everything we see into a category. Even though this happens unconsciously, after categorizing things or people, we also assign a positive or negative association to them. Categories allow our brains to know what to do or how to behave. The downside of this is that classifications often cause us to overgeneralize.
• We rely on mental shortcuts. Most of the time, we rely on “automatic” information processing that involves little conscious thought. This allows us to exert little mental effort in our everyday lives and make swift judgments.
• Social and cultural influences. Our upbringing, social environment, and direct and indirect experiences with members of various social groups imprint on us. These shape our perception at a deeper level, even if we are not conscious of it.

Implicit vs. explicit bias

Both implicit and explicit bias involve judging others based on our assumptions rather than the situation or the facts at hand. However, they are actually quite different.

• Implicit bias occurs when we have an inclination for or against a person or group that emerges automatically. In other words, our evaluation, positive or negative, is unintentional and beyond our conscious awareness.
• Conversely, explicit bias refers to positive or negative attitudes that we are fully aware of. We openly express them and share them with others, because these attitudes are part of our worldview.

Despite their differences, implicit bias can be just as problematic as explicit bias because both may lead to discriminatory behavior.

Implicit bias examples

Implicit bias can lead to discriminatory behavior when it comes to hiring a diverse workforce.

What is the Harvard Implicit Bias Association Test (IAT)?

The Harvard Implicit Bias Association Test (IAT) is a computer-based assessment measuring the strength of associations between concepts or stereotypes to reveal an individual’s implicit or subconscious biases.

The idea behind IAT is that, while we can measure explicit bias by asking respondents directly about their views regarding something like gender roles, the same does not apply for implicit biases. When we want to measure hidden or implicit attitudes, we need to do so indirectly. Otherwise, respondents will not answer truthfully due to social desirability or a lack of awareness of their own biases.

There are different versions of the IAT, but it typically consists of five rounds. In each round, respondents need to quickly sort words (e.g., “parents”) into categories that are on the left- and right-hand side of the screen (e.g., “career” and “family”). The key assumption underlying any IAT is that the stronger the association a respondent has between two concepts, the faster they are to make these associations.

How to reduce implicit bias

Understanding implicit bias is critical because both positive and negative unconscious beliefs can lead to structural and systemic inequalities. However, because it operates outside our awareness, if we want to reduce it, we first need to become conscious of it. The following strategies can be helpful:

• Taking the IAT can help you realize that everyone, including you, has implicit biases. Recognizing them for what they are increases the likelihood that next time you won’t let these hidden biases affect your behavior.
• Positive intergroup contact. Unconscious bias towards a particular group can be reduced through interaction with members of that group. For example, you can make it a point to engage in activities that include individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Counter-stereotyping. Exposure to information that defies stereotypes that persist about groups or individuals, such as images of female scientists, can counter gender stereotypes.
• Implicit bias training. Although raising awareness is important, it’s not enough. The most successful training programs are ones that allow individuals to discover their biases in a non-confrontational manner and also give them the tools to reduce and manage their biases.

Other types of research bias

Frequently asked questions about implicit bias

What is bias?

Bias is a systematic error in the design, administration, or analysis of a study. Because of bias, study results deviate from their true value and researchers draw erroneous conclusions.

There are several types of bias and different research designs or fields are susceptible to different types of research bias. For example, in health research, bias arises from two main sources:

• The approach adopted for selecting study participants
• The approach adopted for collecting or measuring data

These are, respectively, selection bias and information bias.

Is bias positive or negative?

Bias can be either positive or negative. However, all forms of bias (whether favourable or unfavourable) prevent us from judging others fairly.

For example, because of explicit bias, a teacher might openly claim that students from a certain ethnic background are exceptionally good in math. Even though this sounds positive, it means that other students are automatically treated as second-rate. For this reason, bias is linked to unfairness and thus has a negative connotation.

What are the two main types of bias?

There are two main types of bias:

Implicit bias is the positive or negative attitudes, feelings, and stereotypes we maintain about members of a certain group without us being consciously aware of them.

Explicit bias is the positive or negative attitudes, feelings, and stereotypes we maintain about others while being consciously aware of them.

What is the opposite of implicit bias?

The opposite of implicit bias is explicit bias, or conscious bias. This refers to preferences, opinions, and attitudes of which people are generally consciously aware. In other words, explicit bias is expressed openly and deliberately.