The End of Bias

The author argues that the individual who acts with bias is  engaging with an expectation, not with reality. “That expectation  is assembled from the artifacts of culture: headlines and history  books, myths and statistics, encounters real and imagined, and  selective interpretations of reality that confirm prior beliefs,” she  writes. 

 Can you think of an instance when you approached someone  with a ready-made set of expectations about that person? Is it  possible to identify the origins of those expectations?  Did you absorb them from family, media, education, and/or your  group affiliation?

The End of Bias: A Beginning argues that unconscious biased  behavior need not be permanent: “It is routine and it is unwanted  and unintended. But it is not innate; it is something we learn. And  if it’s acquired, it can be cast off. If it’s a habit, it can be broken.”  Did you find this argument persuasive? Did your position shift as  you read the book?

Quoting social psychologist Evelyn Carter, the author says that  the most important element of this work is persisting after a  misstep. How have you seen shame or guilt interfere with the  process of overcoming bias? 

How do you think the author’s identity as a White woman might  have influenced her approach to the subject? What strengths or  limitations might this have posed?

The idea of implicit bias suggests a sharp distinction between the  prejudiced and the unprejudiced. Research suggests that there  might not be such a clear and complete separation between the  two. Do you think that unconscious, unintended bias is entirely  different from the deliberate kind that one holds as a matter of  conviction? 

 “People’s behavior may be shaped by the person with whom they  are interacting.” Psychologist Nicole Shelton has called for bias to  be researched as a dynamic that happens between people, rather  than as a one-way act. Examining prejudice only in individuals  is limited, Shelton says, “because both parties respond  to each other’s actions; each person exerts pressure on the other’s behavior.” Why might this be so important?

 Individuals risk being disliked for violating a stereotype—this is  especially true for women. The result is that people often feel  compelled to conform to the stereotype of their own group. Have  you found that to be true in your own life and behavior?

“Some researchers have concluded that subtle bias can have  more detrimental consequences than overt bias because its  ambiguity demands more mental and emotional resources.” Do  you agree or disagree? Include relevant examples from your own  knowledge or experiences.

“Bias can erode and individual’s capacity to succeed. Worries  about being perceived through the lens of stereotypes, a  phenomenon known as stereotype threat, can hijack working  memory, derailing a person into underperforming.” Have you  personally been affected in this way or have you observed the  effect on others?

The author describes the tension between paying attention  to differences, on the one hand, and not overemphasizing or  essentializing them on the other. How do you think this balance is  best achieved?

One study found that people who believed that gender  discrimination was no longer a problem in their field rated a male  employee as more competent than an identical female employee,  and also recommended an 8-percent higher salary. What might  explain this?

Have you experienced moments of noticing your own biases, and  what does that feel like? What do you do at that point?

"Chronic stress creates a perfect storm for bias by impeding the  brain’s ability to process threats. It also throws off one’s ability  to regulate emotions and depletes the mental resources needed  to keep bias in check.” Can you remember a time when you  responded to stress in this way or you witnessed others doing so?

Mindfulness practice seems to help curb the automatic,  unconsidered reactions that prompt unintended biased behavior.  Why do you think this is the case?

The contact theory holds that if one group of people gets to  know another group as equals, false beliefs may be replaced with  complex, accurate perceptions. Discuss examples of where this  has and has not proven true.

The notion that we might benefit from creating more categories  with which to perceive others may seem counterintuitive.  What do you think of this idea?

Chapters 5 and 6 explore two approaches to changing police behavior. Do you find them persuasive, and why or why not?

In this chapter, the different approaches to removing bias  involve changing processes rather than changing people. They  are based on identifying the moment in which subjective human  judgment may influence decision-making and then introducing  a workaround. What are the advantages and limitations of this  approach?

The idea of “blind auditions” and other masked approaches  to reducing bias seems to conflict with the importance of  acknowledging and respecting differences. What do you make of this tension?

“Any field that is dominated by a limited range of human  experience will find itself hampered by limited access to human  ingenuity.” Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?

Where have you seen the limitations of homogeneity in your own  life or workplace? Can you imagine how these might be different  without homogeneity?

 “An inclusive setting has three features: fair and unbiased  practices, a welcoming attitude of and respect for people’s ‘whole  selves,’ and the desire to seek different perspectives.” Are these  expectations realistic for all environments? Which of these  features are missing in your workplace or institution?

Mentoring and role models are considered to be proven ways to  boost marginalized groups’ success. Have you had experience of  either mentoring or being mentored, and what impact did it have  on you or on others?

Gianmarco Monsellato claims that “people who are not like you  are the most important to hire. They will challenge you the most,  and better decisions come from ideas being scrutinized and then  defended.” Do you agree with this statement? Do you see any  limitations to this view?

It turns out that public consensus can alter how people act: if  people learn that a particular behavior is normal and popular,  they engage in it more. Can you think of examples where you  have seen this dynamic either reinforce or reduce biased behavior?

Psychiatrists Chester Pierce and Gail Allen have argued that  prejudice against children underlies all other forms of  oppression, as it “teaches everyone how to be an oppressor.” What do you think about this claim?

The author describes seeing her own biases as akin to  experiencing grief. Does that resonate with you, and why or why  not?

The author argues that a firm grounding in history can be an  engine of change. Can you think of an example of this in your life?

Which parts of The End of Bias: A Beginning resonated most  strongly with you? Were there parts you disagreed with, and if so,  why?

Having read the book, are you persuaded that unconscious or  unexamined bias can be lessened or even eradicated?