Hidden biases – do I even have them?

Do I even have hidden biases? The short answer is: “Yes, many.” We are all prone to these automatic cognitive processes, whether we would like to confess it or not. Implicit biases develop based on the natural functioning of our brains as we observe patterns and make generalizations. Jerry Kang (2022), vice chancellor of the University of California, Los Angeles, describes that our brains consistently process tens of millions of stimuli every second. We catalog this information, developing thought patterns or “shortcuts” that organize knowledge into broader categories. In most cases, these patterns are useful because they assist us navigate our complex world. However, they have a tendency to create biases, leading us away from a neutral stance. Explicit biases are those who we’re aware of and know we’ve. However, implicit biases are attitudes and stereotypes that exist in our unconscious – we usually are not aware of them – but influence our decisions and actions. These biases arise from our direct experiences or the sorts of media we eat, equivalent to television, books, and social media.
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Implicit bias could be positive, but it could even have negative consequences, causing discrimination after we classify individuals solely based on social categories equivalent to age, gender, race, role or occupation. Kang explains that after we discover someone as belonging to a specific group, our brain robotically processes the data we associate with that group. This information influences our attitudes and the best way we perceive and interact with that person. As healthcare employees, we’re exposed to those implicit biases on daily basis. We unconsciously make false assumptions about our patients based on appearance or socioeconomic status. This may impact the tone wherein we speak to patients or the variety of tests or referrals we order. These interactions can destroy the patient-provider relationship and lead to lack of trust, nonadherence, or poor health outcomes.

Strategies for reducing implicit bias

The fight against negative, implicit bias starts with awareness and education. Edgoose, Quiogue, and Sidhar (2019) describe eight evidence-based strategies within the mnemonic form IMPLICIT.

• : Take time to take into consideration and discover your individual hidden biases; There are free implicit association tests (IATs) available online that can assist with this process.
• : Practice methods to cut back stress and increase mindfulness, equivalent to meditation, yoga, or focused respiration.
• Think about experiences from the attitude of a stereotypical person. Look for media that depicts these experiences, equivalent to books or movies, or try to attach with people from this group.
• Stop and consider your potential biases before engaging with people from specific groups to cut back automatic reactions.
• Judge people based on their personal characteristics, not those related to their group. Try to attach based on shared interests or backgrounds.
• Adopt evidence-based statements that reduce implicit bias. Try to be hospitable and accept multiculturalism.
• Promote organizational change that supports a socially responsible health care system with the final word goal of health equity.
• Practice humility to cut back the ability imbalance between doctor and patient.

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Try to “debiatize” your thoughts by exposure to stereotypes (i.e. individuals with characteristics or roles that differ from established stereotypes). Expand your social circles with diverse and inclusive communities. Spend more time with people who find themselves different from you. Thoughtful, consistent work will help each of us make progress in reducing discrimination and improving health take care of all.

Edgoose, J., Quiogue, M., and Sidhar, K. (2019). How to acknowledge, understand, and unlearn implicit biases in patient care., (4), 29–33.
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Kang, J. (2022). A series of movies about implicit bias. BruinX, UCLA Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. https://equity.ucla.edu/know/implicit-bias/

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