Unconscious biases can be positive or negative biases based on gender, age, skin color, disability, language, name, physical constitution, clothing, etc., which influence our perception of a person and therefore have an effect on our assessment of others and on our actions and decisions. On the one hand, these unconscious biases allow us to process information quickly and effectively, which can be vital – but they can often also be the source of errors in judgement and discrimination. Being aware of your unconscious biases can help minimize their negative effects. Harvard University’s Implicit project tries to make you aware of your unconscious biases and reflect on your own behavior or question its validity.
For teaching and learning situations, it can be worthwhile to reflect on the following:
- How much of a role does superior performance play in my grading?
- How do I feel when students speak in dialect?
- Do I make assumptions when a potential doctoral student becomes pregnant?
- What do I assume when I meet students in the lab or library late in the evening?
- What associations do I have when a student wears a headscarf?
- How do I feel when I notice someone coming late to my seminar at times?
- What impulse do I have when a student comes to an exam in flip-flops and shorts?
- How believable is an apology or excuse to me when the person speaking looks at the ground?
Cf.:
https://www.anti-bias.eu/wissen/definitionen/unconsciousbias-definition/
