We all like to think we treat everyone objectively and fairly. But do we?
The truth is, we frequently make assumptions about what people think, feel and need and why they act like they do without realising we’re doing it. This is unconscious bias.
The big problem is that it’s all, well, unconscious. We don’t realise we’re doing it – which is potentially a major issue in a care setting that aims to deliver truly personalised care. These subconscious judgements also affect how we relate to work colleagues.
Unconscious bias is a consequence of evolution. Thinking uses up a lot of energy and we’re constantly bombarded with more information than we can handle. So we delegate a lot of processing about situations and surroundings to our subconscious.
This is a handy ability for survival but not ideal for empathetic, effective care-giving. It also doesn’t make for healthy work relationships and sound decisions. Research reported in Forbes magazine suggests that managers are even more prone to unconscious bias than others.
Types of Bias
The first step is to understand what bias looks like and how it might be affecting our behaviour and judgement. Here are some of the main types:
- Affinity bias means that we respond more positively to, and like to be around, people we perceive to be like ourselves.
- Attribution bias is when we make assumptions about the motives behind others’ behaviour. We assume our successes are down to talent and hard work and our failures down to bad luck (and the opposite for others).
- Confirmation bias, where we select ‘evidence’ that supports what we already believe.
- Conformity bias, where we’re swayed by the opinion of a group to gain acceptance.
- Beauty bias – judging people by their appearance.
How did you feel reading that list of biases? Was there a flicker of recognition about how you’ve treated people or been treated yourself?
Maybe you’d like to explore unconscious bias in more detail. This course will help you dig deeper and become more aware of how your judgements and behaviour could be being influenced, right now, without you realising.
